UPFA MPs have exerted pressure on President Maithripala Sirisena to take stern action against Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando over the latter's recent comments about "war heroes" and prosecuting soldiers. 

The UPFA MPs, including the ones supporting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, have informed President Sirisena that Fernando's comments might alienate the Sinhala-Buddhist sections and would be detrimental to their future election campaigns. 

Speaking to reporters earlier this week, UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa said the President hinted that he would initiate action against the Defence Ministry Secretary. 

Fernando is a close associate of President Sirisena who also served as his Chief of Staff at one point. Sources close to President Sirisena, however, confirmed that he had not made any decision on taking action against the Defence Ministry Secretary. 

Addressing a recent event at Nalanda College, Colombo, Fernando said only the officers and soldiers who were gazetted as recipients of medals could be addressed as “ranaviruvas.”

However, he said any security personnel involved in murders could not be considered war heroes. 
“When within two weeks we indict 11 soldiers for heinous murders, the diaspora will not be able to accuse us of sheltering those responsible for atrocities. I urge them, if they have evidence, I am sure they must have, then we can prosecute others too," Fernando added.