Non Cabinet Cultural Affairs Minister Piyasiri Wijenayake and UNP Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera locked horns over the claim made by the Minister that the UNP MP sought from him details of a treasure trove (Nidan Vadula) in the Panduwasnuwara area.

The Minister said that when he failed to provide the information, the UNP MP had become vindictive and made false allegations against him saying that he was using upto Rs. 80,000 as fuel charges per month.

"When I met MP Jayasekera in the Parliament lobby, he asked me for some details contained in a stone inscription regarding a ‘Nidan Vadula,’ but I did not divulge such information," the Minister said.

He added that when Jayasekera was the Chairman of Eppawela Phosphate Ltd., he had bought a Montero on a monthly hire purchase basis paying Rs. 180,000 per month out of company’s money.

However, MP Jayasekera refuted the allegation and said he did not know the Minister was in the habit of distributing ‘Nidan Vadulas’ to people.