“I was holding their hands and telling them not to bow”: Deputy Minister responds to ‘bad touch’ criticism

Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply T.B. Sarath has responded to criticism over photographs showing him holding the hands of young girls, saying he was attempting to prevent the children from bowing before him.

Speaking to BBC Sinhala, the Deputy Minister said the photographs were taken during events to open newly constructed houses, where children had welcomed him with betel leaves before attempting to bow in respect.

“When the child gave me the betel leaves and then tried to bow, I held her with both hands and told her, ‘Don’t bow, child,’” Sarath said.

“I am not someone who accepts bows from children. Why should children bow to politicians? That is what I was trying to stop. In all those photographs, I am holding their hands and telling them not to bow,” he added.

Sarath said some of the criticism circulating on social media appeared to be politically motivated, but acknowledged that child protection and rights organisations were entitled to raise concerns over the issue.

“I can accept them pointing this out from the legal perspective. I am not challenging that. But what was in my heart was nothing like what is being suggested. It was genuine affection towards the children,” he said.

The controversy follows criticism from child rights activist Dr. Thushara Wickramanayake, who said any physical contact with a child could become a “bad touch” if it takes place without the child’s consent.

Dr. Wickramanayake had stressed that discussions on “good touch” and “bad touch” should also recognise a child’s right to decide whether they are comfortable with physical contact, calling for adults, including politicians, to respect children’s personal boundaries.

Meanwhile, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) told BBC Sinhala that the touching visible in the photographs appeared inappropriate.

NCPA Director of Law Enforcement, attorney-at-law Sajeevani Abeykoon, said the authority rejects inappropriate touching and was looking into contacting the children involved to determine whether they wished to pursue legal action.

She said that under the existing legal framework, a statement from an affected child indicating that the contact caused discomfort, embarrassment or fear would be necessary to proceed with legal action. (Newswire)

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