Court orders to pay Rs. 250M as damages to Defense Secretary

Leader Publications was ordered to pay Rs. 250 million as damages to Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for publishing false and malicious articles aimed to defame the reputation of the Defense Secretary.  

Mt. Lavinia District Judge Priyantha Fernando made this order yesterday delivering the judgment on the case filed by the Defense Secretary against Leader Publications, and the Editor-in-chief of the Sunday Leader for continuously publishing false and malicious articles defaming him, and ignoring a stay order given by the Mt. Lavinia District Court against such publications.

PC Ali Sabri who appeared for the Defense Secretary said the respondents had continuously published defamatory articles against his client despite a stay order given by the Court.

He said there was sufficient evidence led in court to prove that these articles drawing the Defense Secretary’s name to the tender regarding the purchase of Mig aircraft were completely false and malicious in intent. Mr. Ali Sabri PC with Attorneys Messrs Rasika Dissanayake, Sanath Fernando and Kasun Premaratne instructed by Mr. Sanath Wijewardene appeared for the plaintiff. (niz).