Weerawansa files appeal for Rs. 1 million bail

An appeal has been filed at the Supreme Courts by Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa, challenging the verdict given by the Commercial High Courts to pay bail of Rs. 1 million, yesterday.

The bail was to be paid to People’s Liberation Front General Secretary Tilvin Silva, for the ruling that the publication by Weerawansa called ‘Naththa Wenuwata Aththa’ (Truth instead of lies) had violated Silva’s intellectual rights, according to the Intellectual Property Act.

Weerawansa has handed in the appeal to the Colombo Commercial High Courts Registrar yesterday, requesting the Parliamentarian to be released of the case, saying the order has been issued without proper observations, hence, seeks a Supreme Court order voiding the verdict of the Commercial High Court. 

The judgment given by Commercial High Court Judge Ruwan Fernando earlier this month has been ruled out for having violated the publication rights, economical rights, and moral rights coming under the Intellectual Property Act No.36 of 2003, in the aforementioned book by Weerawansa. The Commercial High Court has further issued an order restraining Wimal Weerawansa from printing, publishing, selling and distribution of the book. 

The case filed by Silva, naming Weerawansa as the Defendant, has explained that the reason for him filling a case was because the publication has included several un-published letters authored by him, which are his original work in the said book without his consent or approval or authorisation.