He made these remarks at the Department of Government Information addressing the Weekly Cabinet press briefing. He was referring to a statement by Olympic medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe, which said that she is going to auction her Olympic medal.

The minister said that the Ministry of Sports had borne a huge cost for Susanthika Jayasinghe to win that medal.  It is a medal received to the country, therefore she has no right to auction it, he added.

"If she wants to auction it, she can auction it to the Sports Ministry. I will keep it in the ministry. Nobody can sell the medals. The country needs them."

According to the minister, the salary of Mrs. Jayasinghe as an advisor of the ministry has not been suspended so far, instead she has been informed by a letter to fulfill the duties, which she has neglected. She has been paid a monthly salary of Rs. 60, 000.