Case against Lake House withdrawn

Kandy: The Billion Rupee Damages Claim filed by Kandy District UNP MP Laskshman Kiriella in the Kandy District Court against the Lake House was withdrawn by the Petitioner Lakshman Kiriella when the case was called before District Judge Bandula Karunaratne yesterday.

In this case UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella claimed damages from Lake House for carrying a news report in the Dinamina newspaper of March 31, 2005 to the effect that a land transaction manipulated by Lakshman Kiriella as the Minister of Plantation Industries during the UNP regime has caused a loss of several million rupees to the State.

The news report further stated that under an instrument of investiture dated October 13, 2003 transferring a land called Gammaduwa Estate of Opalgala, Matale, belonging to the State Plantation Corporation to a private company, a plot of land 1624 hectares in extent along with the official residence of the Assistant Superintendent of Estate was transferred to the said company in excess of the extent of land covered under the agreement.

Lakshman Kiriella's petition cited Lake House, Dinamina Chief Editor Mahinda Abeysundera, and journalists Sanjaya Asela Mathurata and D.B. Elkaduwa as Respondents. Summons remained unserved on D.B. Elkaduwa, the 4th Respondent from the beginning till it was called yesterday.

Attorney-at-Law Gamini Herath instructed by Ayomi Karunaratne, Attorney-at-Law appeared for the Petitioner while Attorney-at-Law Mohan Rupasinghe instructed by Rohana Hettiarachchi, Attorney-at-Law appeared for the Lake House.