Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said an organized campaign was underway to undermine Buddhism in Sri Lanka and turn the country into a state without a religion. 

Addressing a gathering at a Buddhist temple in his hometown, Rajapaksa said books were being written and the stage plays were being produced to fulfill this objective. 

This comes in the wake of allegations that government authorities took measures to censor several creations on the grounds that they insulted Buddhism. 

Following the move, however, there was a severe backlash with senior Cabinet ministers of the government criticizing censorship. Among them was Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera who said in Parliament that censorship was senseless. 

"Today, reconciliation is only for Buddhists. There is no reconciliation for other religions," the former President said. 

Rajapaksa said the government was behind these attempts to undermine Buddhism and the status the religion enjoyed in the country.