During the live telecast of the funeral rites of Ariyadhamma thera the presenter had asked whether to cut the former president's speech

During last week at the funeral ceremony and the performing of the last rituals of the Anu Nayake of the Ramanya Nikaya Nauyane Ariyadhamma thera
the national television telecast the funeral proceedings live.

During this live telecast the speech made by the former President Mahinda Rajapkasa was also telecast live.This had been criticized by certain political newspapers.

At the funeral ceremony the President and the Prime Minister had been absent.The messages of the President and the Prime Minister had been read.It is reported that a certain monk had proposed the former President to make a speech. Even at that time the representative Monks of the three Nikaya had not objected.

However the announcer of the national Rupavahini who had the list of the events to telecast had shown his dissent to the speech of the former President.When the Monk had suggested for the speech to be telecast the announcer in charge had shown dissent.Later the organizer in charge of the ceremony Minister Vajira Abeywardena had said that he cannot say anything.

At the end when the presenter had asked whether to take it off from the live programme it had been referred to the Minister of  mass media and communication and shown with his consent.