Susanthika complains of Susima script

Sandasen MARASINGHE

COLOMBO: Sprint Queen Susanthika Jayasinghe giving evidence before Colombo District Judge Aruna C. Ranasinghe said her very life story was depicted in a defamatory manner in the script of the film Susima.

She made this observation before Court yesterday when her plaint filed against Sarath Namalgama, producer of the film Susima and its director Mohamed Niyas was taken up for hearing.

Jayasinghe stated when she was examined by President’s Counsel Palitha Kumarasinghe, she managed to read the script of the film and the first scene of the film started with a scene at the Olympic Games in Sydney.

She said that was the day when she was awarded a bronze medal for the women’s 200 metre event. The other main competitors who participated in the event with her at the Olympics were depicted in the film.

Jayasinghe said she was the only woman who won an Olympic medal for Sri Lanka and the film depicted her life story. She never gave her consent to the defendants to depict her character in a film.

Jayasinghe said she came to know that her life story was to be filmed by some persons but she did not know who they were by then. Later she saw an actress coming for practices to the same place where she practised.

President’s Counsel Palitha Kumarasinghe: Who was that actress ?

Jayasinghe: Sangeetha Weeraratne.

Jayasinghe said she later made an acquaintance with the defendants and acquired a copy of the film’s script.

In the plaint, Jayasinghe alleged that the film attempted to depict her lifestyle without her consent. The script had been written with malice to assassinate her character and to cause pain of her mind.

On an earlier occasion, Court granted an ex-parte enjoining order and later after hearing the case, granted an interim injunction.

The defendant in this case appealed against the interim injunction before the Court of Appeal but the Court of Appeal affirmed the order of the District Court. Further hearing was put off for June 12.

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, President’s Counsel Palitha Kumarasinghe and Priyantha Alagiyawanna instructed by G.G. Arulpragasam appeared for Jayasinghe while Attorney Ranjith Perera and Attorney Lal Dahanayake appeared for defence.