The Malwatte Maha Vihara Chapter has issued a statement refuting social media claims that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa requested the Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwatte Chapter to pressure the current President to prevent the arrest of Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

The statement, issued by the Deputy Registrar of the Malwatte Maha Vihara, Venerable Mahawela Rathanapala Thero, acting under the instructions of the Mahanayaka Thera, explicitly states that no such meeting or telephone conversation took place.

The Malwatte Chapter has warned that legal action will be taken against individuals and organisations attempting to create unnecessary public unrest by fabricating and spreading such false and misleading news.