People for Ethical Treatment of Animals demands thorough investigation into alleged sexual abuse of dog by Pres Advisor

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The global animal rights activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Friday (23rd) urged the Government of Sri Lanka to thoroughly investigate allegations that an Advisor to Sri Lanka’s President sexually abused a pet dog.

“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.

PETA is famed for directly taking on governments and multinational corporations in support of animal rights. Founded in 1980 and based in Virginia, PETA counts more than 9 million members worldwide. An enormous number of celebrities worldwide have lent their support to PETA including its honorary directors Paul McCartney, Alicia Silverstone, Eva Mendes, Charlize Theron and Ellen DeGeneres.

On Friday, horrifying video recordings of an Advisor to Sri Lanka’s President allegedly sexually abusing a dog went viral. 

Prof. Ashu Marasinghe, Advisor to the President and former Member of Parliament, resigned today (Friday, 23rd) hours after news of the damning videos broke, citing personal reasons. 

Marasinghe, 51, was appointed as a National List Member of Parliament representing the United National Party and served in the legislature from 2017-2020. 

Former MP Hirunika Premachandra held a media briefing on Friday and revealed the video recordings which she said had been made by a woman named Aadarsha Karandana, who owned the pet dog. 

Ms. Karandana told the media that she had been Marasinghe’s girlfriend after meeting him online on Facebook, and had lived with him for two years. She said she had grown suspicious after noticing changes in the dog’s behavior and had secretly recorded the acts of bestiality without his knowledge. 

Ms. Karandana said that when she confronted Marasinghe, he physically abused her. She added that she had been physically abused by Marasinghe throughout their relationship of two years. 

There was no immediate comment from Marasinghe. 

Ms. Karandana said she had reported Marasinghe’s bestiality to the President’s wife and the President’s Secretary, but that no action had been taken so far. 

There was no immediate comment from the Presidential Secretariat apart from a terse statement announcing Marasinghe’s resignation. Sri Lanka’s police also did not immediately comment. 

Ms. Premachandra asserted that Marasinghe could be guilty of offenses under Sri Lanka’s Penal Code and could face up to 20 years in prison. 

According to his LinkedIn profile, Marasinghe has in the past held many high posts including that of Assistant Chief Government Whip in Parliament; and Chairman of the State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka.  

He has worked also extensively in Japan since 2001 in many academic posts including as a Professor at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Associate Professor at the Nagaoka University of Technology; Research Assistant at the University of Aizu; and as a Teacher at the Aizu-Wakamatsu Board of Education, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Marasinghe holds a doctorate in computer science and Engineering from the University of Aizu.

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