I wasn't talking about the girl, but about another prostitute - Dilum Amunugama

Dilum Amunugama, the National Organizer of the Sarvajana Balaya Party and former Member of Parliament, who referred to the abused girl in Anuradhapura as a prostitute, has made a new statement after controversy arose regarding his comment, claiming he was referring to another woman. Mr. Amunugama states that the Atamasthanadhipathi (Chief Incumbent of the Eight Sacred Places) was arrested due to a statement made by a prostitute during a raid on a brothel in Nittambuwa, alleging abuse by the Atamasthanadhipathi, and that he (Amunugama) was referring to such a rumor, not the girl in question.

It is regrettable that he is now talking about such a prostitute, who has not been reported in any media so far, merely to escape the error he made, rather than to correct it. Meanwhile, with several complaints already lodged with the police regarding Mr. Amunugama's statement, he asserted his innocence as follows.

"That needs to be corrected. Because what I mentioned there was a piece of information I received in response to a question from a journalist. Social media distorted it, and we saw it as me calling that child a prostitute. Since this is being continuously attacked, if those social media activists think that's how it happened, it's actually not how the incident occurred.

Especially, as far as I know, this incident started when the police raided a place in the Nittambuwa area where such women are sold, and it is based on a statement given by a woman who was at that location that this incident has escalated to this extent, that is my understanding. When the journalist inquired about it at that time, I mentioned that, according to the information I received, such a person had given a statement. I stated that it was based on the statement she gave at that location that these investigations were conducted and the monk was arrested.

I actually said that it wasn't necessary to publish it. Because I didn't have a hundred percent understanding of it. You can't say things based on rumors, can you? We didn't call the press conference for that purpose. We called the press conference on the morning of War Heroes' Commemoration Day to talk about war heroes. The entire discussion might even be available with media organizations. Therefore, this needs to be corrected.

Especially, we know there are groups that spread mud-slinging. But even those who are not like that, my well-wishers, questioned me about whether I said such things about this child. It is precisely because of that reason that this needs to be corrected. I also know that such things cannot be said about that child. I don't say such things. You all know that I have been in politics for about twenty years. I have never, even in politics, made derogatory statements about anyone. I answered that question to the best of my knowledge.

However, if that statement has caused any hurt to that child, a member of that child's family, or anyone in this society due to a misunderstanding, I express my regret regarding it. I also apologize for it. I need to clarify that I made that statement in relation to the aforementioned Nittambuwa incident, and not in relation to this child's incident."