Sri Lankan state minister of defence Ruwan Wijewardene donated Rs. 100,000 to Buddhist viharas as he praised religious education as the best way to cut the island's crime rate.
Receiving blessings from Buddhist monks, the minister donated the cash to five Temples in Biyagama on Sunday.
He added that his donation was for the Buddhist viharas' educational programs , stating, "this noble initiative would indirectly contribute to trim-down the rising crime rate in the country while making younger generation aware and attentive on religious based education."
*Article amended 09:34 15 Oct 2015. Correction made to Mr Wijewardene's role as state minister of defence, not defence minister.