Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena has spoken of his nickname in Parliament, while claiming that it has been misrepresented by some individuals. 

Abeygunawardena has claimed that he was given a nickname – ‘Raththaran’ – in his childhood, and that he would resign if anyone proved that a Police complaint had been lodged against him for snatching necklaces.

He has told the House that he was called ‘Raththaran’ in his childhood as a nickname and that after he had entered politics, people had started to say that he was called ‘Raththaran’ because he had snatched necklaces.

“We are given nicknames in our childhood. I was called ‘Raththaran’ in my childhood. People in my area know me as ‘Raththaran’. When I came to politics, people started to say that I was called ‘Raththaran’ because I snatched necklaces. It is circulated on social media. If anyone can prove that a complaint has been lodged against me for snatching necklaces, I will resign as an MP tomorrow,” Abeygunawardena has said.

He has made this statement during the Parliament debate on the Online Safety Bill (OSB), where he has also claimed that social media was circulating false news to get hits and earn money.