Enjoining Order against newspaper

Sandasen Marasinghe

Colombo District Judge Sampath Wijeratne yesterday issued an enjoining order restraining the editor of the Heladiva Irida Sangrahaya newspaper and two others from publishing articles containing false and baseless reports involving of Fonterra Brands Pvt Ltd, in their newspaper.

The Court issued the order after considering a plaint filed by Fonterra Brands Pvt Ltd that articles published by the respondents were defamatory of the plaintiff.

The plaintiff Fonterra Brands Pvt Ltd which imports and distributes a large number of milk powder varieties including Anchor cited Sayuri Newspapers Pvt Ltd, Sayuri Printers and Publishers Pvt Ltd and Darma Sri Kariyawasam, the editor of the Heladiva Irida Sangrahaya as the defendants.

The Court also issued notice on the respondents to appear before the Court on March 31.

The plaintiff submitted that they were importing, processing packing and distributing milk powder, under the names of Anchor, Ratti, Red Cow, Anmum, Anlene.

The plaintiff also submitted that an article appearing in the Heladiva Irida Sangrahaya on March 15, 2009 carried a defamatory material that was false, baseless and misleading. The plaintiff claimed Rs.1,000 million as damages.