Anu Nayake Vendaruwe Upali Thera made the request to ministers Mahinda Amaraweera and S.B. Dissanayake at a meeting closed for the media.

The Thera has said that it was nothing personal, but that it was not suitable to appoint a woman as the CP governor, who has to work closely with the Dalada Maligawa as well as clergy of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters.

Instances may happen in which it would be improper for women to take part in religious functions, at which she herself would become helpless, the Asgiriya chapter has pointed out.

However, the clergy did not oppose when Ekanayake’s predecessor Surangani Ellawala was in office.

The Asgiriya chapter has also forgotten that it was a woman, princess Hemamali, who had brought the sacred tooth relic to the country concealed on her hair.

There is reportedly a matter of caste involved in the opposition to Ekanayake.