Police have formally summoned former Minister Dilum Amunugama to record a statement over remarks made at a recent media briefing that the Women and Child Affairs Ministry says may have caused prejudice to a minor in the Pallegama Hemarathana Thera child abuse case.
Police Spokesman F.U. Wootler said investigations had been launched following multiple complaints over the comments, in which Amunugama claimed at a Sarvajana Balaya briefing that the arrest and detention of an Atamasthanadhipathi Thera had been based on a statement made by “a prostitute”. An inquiry is now under way, Wootler added.
The remarks triggered a social-media backlash because the case involves a 15-year-old child identified as both victim and witness. Amunugama subsequently clarified that the comment had been misrepresented and was referring to a separate matter in the Nittambuwa area, and offered an apology if his words had hurt the child or the family.
The escalation to a formal police summons comes two days after the Women and Child Affairs Ministry wrote to the Inspector General requesting an investigation, citing the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act No. 10 of 2023. Authorities have also urged media outlets and social-media users to stop circulating clips of the briefing to prevent the child being re-traumatised.
Amunugama, the Sarvajana Balaya national organiser and a former state minister under the previous administration, has not commented publicly on the summons.
