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by Kumar Wethasinghe

The rupees five hundred million damage suit filed against the former Speaker Anura Bandaranaike by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake will be taken up before the Additional District Judge for Colombo L. S. Abeygunaratne today.

The petitioner had alleged that certain media statements made by the former Speaker was defamatory of him.

In his petition filed through G. G. Arulpragasam, Attorney-at-Law, the petitioner alleged that Mr. Bandaranaike's statement appeared in the Daily News of October 2, 2001, titled "Speaker doesn't wish to be involved in mud-slinging".

Among other matters, the plaintiff states that the said statement of the defendant is per se 'defamatory' of the plaintiff.

The plaintiff states that the said statements of the defendant, particularly the averments set out in paragraph 9 above, is defamatory of the plaintiff by innuendo in that the said statement was made to create and convey an impression and/or did create and convey an impression that the plaintiff has been dishonest and untrustworthy and he is a person who conspires against the Leader of the United National Party to oust him from the party.

The plaintiff further states that the said statement has been issued by the defendant with animus injuriandi towards the plaintiff.

The plaintiff states that the said statement has been issued by the defendant with express malice in that inter alia - The plaintiff has made constructive criticism of the defendant's conduct as a Member of Parliament and as a member of the United National Party and as a Speaker.

The defendant is of the view that the plaintiff as a close and intimate friend of the editor of the 'Sunday Leader', which published several articles exposing the conduct of the defendant and/or severely criticised him and thereby the defendant harboured an anger against the plaintiff.

The defendant who was elected from the United National Party, had secret relationship with the People's Alliance and contemplated to crossover to the Sri Lanka

Freedom Party which conduct of the defendant was severely criticised by the Plaintiff and other members of the United National Party and thereby the defendant had an anger against the plaintiff.

The plaintiff at a Special Group Meeting of the Parliamentarians of the United National Party criticised the conduct of the Defendant who was at that time a Member of the Parliament from the United National Party which angered the defendant against the plaintiff.

The plaintiff states as a result of the said statement, the plaintiff has suffered loss of reputation as a person, a politician, a professional and a businessman.In the circumstances, the plaintiff has suffered loss and damage which he estimates at Rs. 500 million.

Romesh de Silva PC with Palitha Kumarasinghe instructed by G. G. Arulpragasam appears for the petitioner.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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