A tense situation arose at a Buddhist temple in the Embilipitiya area when former President Mahinda Rajapaksa failed to turn up for a religious event. 

Rajapaksa's coordinating staff informed the organisers the former President could not attend due to a minor ailment. 

The former President had however sent his brother former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to attend on behalf of him. 

Enraged by the former President's failure to attend the event, two organisers climbed up a tree and staged a protest there. 

The former Speaker's attempts to calm the situation didn't bear fruit - he had even facilitated a call between the former President and the two organisers. 

The situation took a turn when the former President lashed out at the two protestors during his telephone call with them. 

As a result, the religious event was ended abruptly and the former Speaker left without even participating in the ceremony.