Did not pronounce it as 'Mahatha' says Umara Sinhawansa

Popular Sri Lankan singer Umara Sinhawansa was summoned to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government in order to obtain a statement about singing the national anthem in an alleged distorted manner during the opening ceremony of the 2023 Lanka Premier League (LPL)

Dhammika Muthugala, the additional secretary of the ministry said that yesterday she came to the relevant investigation department and gave the statement.

During the investigation she has stated that she did not pronounce the words "Mahatha" while singing the national anthem.

However, she has stated that the word "Matha" may have been heard as "Mahatha" when the song was broadcast through electronic media.

Apart from this, statements have also been obtained from the Cricket Board and the Deputy Director of the Music Department of the Ministry of Education regarding the incident.