Lion sues Club for censure motion

COLOMBO: The District Court of Colombo has permitted Ranjan Jayawardane, a member of the Lions Club of Wellawatte and a Civil Engineer by profession, to proceed with action claiming Rs. 10,000,000 against key members of the International Association of Lions Clubs Multiple Council District 306, with regard to a Motion of Censure passed on him at the 27th Annual Multiple District 306 Convention held at the BMICH in May 2005.

Jayawardane, the plaintiff, who was Project Coordinator of the GFTAM Anti Malaria Project of the Lions Club, has stated in his petition that the Lions Clubs Multiple Council had wrongfully and illegally permitted a Motion of Censure to be passed on him at the said Convention, with regard to his work and handling of funds of the Anti Malaria Project, in a gross distortion of facts.

He says that the action of the Multiple Council has caused him grave and irreparable damage, loss, harm and prejudice in terms of reputation, public esteem, social standing and pain of mind.

He, therefore, has sued the defendant members of the International Association of Lions Clubs Multiple District 306. They are Lions S. Sivanandan (Chairperson), Paddy Withana (Vice Chairperson), Lalith de Silva (Secretary) Graetian Gunawardena (Treasurer), and Rohantha de Fonseka, Sarath Gunasekera, Luxman Wijeweera, K. D. K. Wijenayake, and Kassapa Mahendra de Silva (members).

On initial submissions made the District Court of Colombo has permitted the Plaintiff to institute and continue with the action and further ordered that notice be served to Defendants.

Attorneys-at-law M. A. Sumanthiran and Viran Corea appeared for the plaintiff and the District Court of Colombo fixed the case to be called on May 5, 2006.