After a forced resignation following leaked footage of presidential advisor Ashu Marasinghe sexually abusing a dog, he has been reappointed to his position.
The footage was revealed by former MP Hirunika Premachandra during a media briefing on Friday. During the briefing, she identified the dog’s owner as Aadarsha Karandana who had been in a two-year relationship with Marasinghe after meeting on Facebook.
Karandana claimed that she had grown suspicious of Marasinghe as her dog’s behaviour began to change. She would go on to secretly record these acts of bestiality without Marasinghe’s knowledge. When confronted by Karandana, Marasinghe abused Karandana.
During the media briefing, Premachandra maintained that Marasinghe could be found guilty of offenses under Sri Lanka’s Penal Code and could face up to 20 years in prison.
Marasinghe has denied the allegations claiming that the footage is fake. His reappointment comes a day before Sri Lanka’s 75th Independence Day.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have urged for an investigation into the matter stating:
“PETA urges the Sri Lankan government to thoroughly investigate the allegations against the presidential advisor, and if true, punish him to the fullest extent under Sri Lankan laws. People who abuse animals, including sexually, often move on to human victims,” Daphna Nachminovitch, Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations at PETA United States said.