Court awards MP Senasinghe Rs. 250 m as damages for defamation by C.B. Rathnayake

Thursday, 6 February 2025 04:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

MP Sujeewa Senasinghe

Former MP C.B. Rathnayake

The District Court of Mount Lavinia yesterday awarded MP Sujeewa Senasinghe Rs. 250 million as damages in respect of a defamation action filed against former MP C.B. Rathnayake.

This was when the defamation action filed by MP Senasinghe against former MP Rathnayake in respect of a defamatory statement made by the latter was taken up for judgment before the District Judge of Mount Lavinia D.M. Kodithuwakku.

MP Senasinghe filed the instant action against former MP Rathnayake in respect of a defamatory statement made by the latter, which was telecasted on the 7 p.m. ‘Sirasa News First’ news telecast on 2 August 2017.

It was observed by MP Senasinghe in his application before the District Court of Mount Lavinia that former MP Rathnayake in his statement indicated that the former attempted to insert misleading footnotes to the COPE report compiled pertaining to the Bond Scam, diminishing the value of such report and that MP Senasinghe has illegally been given houses and/or property.

MP Senasinghe, during his evidence-in-chief, submitted to Court that such statements have defamed him and caused substantial loss to his reputation, affecting his standing in society.

At the trial, President’s Counsel Farman Cassim, appearing on behalf of MP Senasinghe, marked documents including the Report of the Commission of Inquiry To Investigate, Inquire and Report On The Issuance of Treasury Bonds During the Period from 1 February 2015 to 31 March 2016, drawing the Court’s attention to the recommendations of late Justice Prasanna Jayawardena that the footnotes are not incorrect or unreasonable.

Following the trial and having heard the evidence of both parties, District Judge of Mount Lavinia D.M. Kodithuwakku awarded MP Sujeewa Senasinghe Rs. 250 million as damages.

President’s Counsel Farman Cassim, with Attorney-at-Law Vinura Kularatne, Attorney-at-Law Jessica Abeyratne, Attorney-at-Law Faadhila Thassim, and Attorney-at-Law Talal Fauz, instructed by Attorney-at-Law Reshan Gamage, appeared for the Plaintiff, whilst President’s Counsel Kushan De Alwis appeared for the Defendant.