Defence Secretary claims Rs 1 b for defamation from Sunday Leader

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s Attorney at Law Sanath Wijewardane has sent a letter of demand for one billion rupees to the Sunday Leader newspaper Chairman Lal Wickramatunga and Editor Fredrica Jansz as damages for publishing two articles defamatory of the Defence Secretary on December 6 and December 12, 2009.

The Attorney at Law pointing out that the District Court of Mount Lavinia had ordered the Sunday Leader to be restrained in publishing such news in two cases filed by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The news articles published in collusion with retired General Sarath Fonseka were defamatory of the Defence Secretary. The Sunday Leader had given an undertaking to the District Court but that undertaking had been breached by publishing these two articles, the letter of demand stated.

The Attorney stated that the Sunday Leader should withdraw the defamatory articles and tender a public apology prominently in the Newspapers, next issue. The Attorney will institute legal proceedings against the Sunday Leader for defamation of court for breaching the undertaking given to the District court.

If the Sunday Leader fails to make the apology to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa legal steps will be taken to claim one billion rupees as damages for defamation, the letter of demand stated.