Damitha claims she only got about Rs 800,000 as donations during Aragalaya

By Chaminda Silva

Popular actress and a leading figure in the aragalaya movement, Damitha Abeyratna told the media that she only received about 800,000 rupees from well-wishers during the anti-government protests. These funds were spent on the daily activities of the protests, she said.

“People didn’t take to the streets for the fun of it. They did so because politicians had failed. The unprecedented economic crisis is the reason why protests occurred,” she said. Abeyratna said she had no intention of contesting elections although she considered herself more capable than most MPs.

“Some people say that I received around two million rupees from well-wishers. This is not true. I got only about 800,000. My husband is Tamil, his mother is Sinhalese. Just because I am married to a Tamil person doesn’t make me an LTTE supporter as some people claim,” she said.

Abeyratna said Thilini Priyamali, arrested for embezzling large amounts of money from the rich and the powerful, had not given her any money and that she had not deposited money with Priyamali.

“Priyamali called me when my brother’s son was hospitalised after an accident. She said she wanted to help. I don’t accept help from people not known to me for private matters. Priyamali again called me and said if I deposited 500,000 rupees with her, she could double it. I think anyone who pays attention to news knows that this is too good to be true. A person can’t double your money unless she/he is engaged in risky businesses,” she said.