YouTube political commentator Sepala Amarasinghe, who was arrested recently by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), is not an activist nor a person in the organisational machinery of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) or National People’s Party (NPP), JVP and NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said while addressing the media yesterday (8).
“Sepala Amarasinghe is neither an activist of the JVP or NPP, nor is he involved in the organisational machinery of the party. Moreover, if you observe his past statements, he has clearly represented the Gotabaya-Mahinda Rajapaksa camp during the Presidential Election and the General Election. However, people can change, and he had expressed his most recent views and opinions publicly on YouTube,” claimed Dissanayaka.
Furthermore, he revealed that the party had participated in interviews hosted by the said YouTuber, emphasising that the party is ready to be interviewed by anyone without any prejudice to answer people’s questions.
Dissanayaka said that as a result of this interview, YouTuber Sepala Amarasinghe has published both positive and negative comments about the JVP, which they are ready to accept, given his independent and democratic right to freedom of speech.
“Now the Government is trying to pin this controversy on us. However, we have a concrete standing and proper understanding of Buddhism and its philosophy, so this attempt by the Government will be proven futile,” he said.
Amarasinghe, who is in the eye of a storm over a remark he had made about the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) last Thursday (5), following Inspector-General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne having received several written complaints in this regard.
Furthermore, Chief Prelates of Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera and Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera had also written to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, raising concerns about the offensive statements by Amarasinghe, urging the Government to take necessary measures to nip the matter in the bud.