(News 1st) Horrifying video recordings of an Advisor to Sri Lanka’s President allegedly sexually abusing a dog have gone viral. 

Prof. Ashu Marasinghe, Advisor to the President and former Member of Parliament, resigned December 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. 

(News 1st)