Defence Secretary vs Sunday Leader:

Enjoining Order extended till January 30, 2009

Staff Correspondent

The Enjoining Order restraining the publication in the Sunday Leader newspaper of letters, articles, news etc defamatory of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, by Mount Lavinia District Judge Priyantha de Silva has been extended till January 30, 2009.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Leader on December 21, 2008 carried a lead story titled ‘Full statement and objections to be filed. Gotabhaya has suppressed material facts - Counsel’.

Legal experts are of the opinion that the publication of this news item containing ‘Full statement of objections to be filed’ may amount to contempt of Court.