Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera has come under severe pressure to step down from his post in the wake of the controversy surrounding actress Piumi Hansamali.

A number of MPs within the ruling party are of the view that the Minister should step down from his position due to his alleged interference in the quarantine process involving the actress. The same sentiments are widely shared by many across social media platforms as well.

The Minister yesterday issued a statement clarifying that he only intervened in helping the actress get some clothes from her house before setting off for the quarantine facility. This statement, however, has sparked more concerns with many questioning the Minister's interest to go out of his way to fulfil her request.

It was reported in the media that the Minister had directly telephoned Piumi Hansamali and asked her to give the mobile phone to the police officer who was in charge of the bus which was taking them to a state-run quarantine facility in Bandarawela. The Minister had directed the officer to turn the bus back and return to Colombo.