Agriculture Minister to settle defamation case against ITN

COLOMBO: Colombo District Judge Aruna C. Ranasinghe allowed an application to settle the defamation case filed by Agriculture Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara against the Independence Television Network (ITN) when the ITN expressed its regrets

to Minister Nanayakkara for causing pain of mind and for any inconvenience caused to the Minister by telecasting the news based on the interview by one Vijaya de Alwis on June 7, 2005,news telecast.

Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara who filed a defamation case against ITN stated that facts in the interview telecast on June 7, 2005 were defamatory of him. The Minister also in his defamatory case stated that the news based on the interview was telecast without verifying facts independently and impartially. He claimed Rs.300 million as damages.

Senior Counsel Chandana Liyanapatabendi with Indika Muhandiram and Rangika Pilapitiya instructed by Iresha Samaraweera appeared for the Minister.

Senior Counsel Ravi Jayawardene with Samantha Vithana instructed by Sandamali Pathirana appeared for the ITN.