Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the Police to take strong action against those who damaged several Buddha statues in the Mawanella area. 

Government sources said the Prime Minister had spoken to IGP Pujith Jayasundara on the ongoing Police investigations into the matter. 

The Police have so far arrested 09 people in connection with the incident. Further investigations are underway to ascertain whether there was an organized attempt to architect religious tensions in the area by desecrating Buddha statues. 

Minister Kabir Hashim was instrumental in organizing community meetings in the area aiming to diffuse tensions after the incidents. 

President Maithripala Siriena, who is currently on a holiday, has reportedly contacted Hashim over the telephone and asked about the incident.