President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been requested to redeploy security personnel for the security and development of the Mihintale sacred area.
The request was made by the Chief Prelates of the Asgiriya and the Malwatte chapters in a letter to the President.
In their letter, the Chief Prelates called for Army personnel to be deployed for labour work related to the development activities in the sacred area.
They further called for Civil Security officials and Police personnel to be deployed to ensure the security of people, including local and foreign tourists, visiting the Mihintale Temple.
The appeal to the President comes after the government, earlier in December, decided to withdraw over 200 Sri Lanka Army soldiers assigned to work at the Mihintale sacred area.
The decision was taken in response to a complaint from the Chief incumbent of the temple, who expressed concern about two army officers in civilian clothing, deeming it a threat to his life. (NewsWire)