Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa said the food processing factory he recently opened in Katunaike is not a slaughterhouse.

“There is a major mud-slinging campaign due to the opening of the food processing factory. I must reiterate that it is a food processing factory and not a slaughterhouse where animals are killed,” Rajapaksa added commenting on social media. Speaking further the Minister said, ‘This is a company that exports meat and other food products. I went there as a guest because the owners of the company invited me because. There is a mudslinging campaign on Facebook linking me saying this is a cattle slaughterhouse.

"I am a vegetarian. The food processing factory also produces vegetarian food. That means vegetarian food is also available here. Their work is not only confined to meat,” he added.

“When local businessmen start new ventures, that brings income to the country, it should be appreciated. What we need to do is to empower such local entrepreneurs,” the Minister also said.