Lake House Chairman sues E News for Rs 1,000 million

Lake House Chairman and senior journalist Bandula Padmakumara sent two letters of demand to the E News website on Wednesday, seeking Rs 1,000 million as damages within 14 days for causing damage to his reputation by publishing false and malicious information.

The letters of demand have been sent to the E News office at 11/1, Rajagiriya Road, Rajagiriya, its director and Editor in Chief D P Sandaruwan Senadheera and News Editor Bennet Rupasinghe.

Attorney K M Kumudu Gunawardena who has sent the letters of demand on behalf of Padmakumara, stated that the two news items published on June 24 and July 8 referring to Padmakumara who is rendering a service towards Sri Lanka's media sector and newspaper journalism, are totally false and malicious in intent and demanded Rs 500 million on each count. She has stated that if the compensation is not paid within 14 days for causing injustice to her client, steps will be taken to file action in courts.

Padmakumara who had started several women's publications and features, was the founder editor of the Lakbima Sunday edition.

He is a founder member of the Free Media Movement and functioned as the secretary of the Sri Lanka Editors' Guild as a founder member. Padmakumara has been presenting the popular Mul Pituwa and Loka Sithiyama programmes for the last eight years.

The letters of demand which say that the news items had been published with the intention of misleading the government and President by giving the impression that he is a fraudulent person embezzling Lake House funds, have demanded the payment of compensation as damages within 14 days. Meanwhile, a defamation case filed by Lake House against Lanka E News is currently under investigation by court.

Counsel for plaintiff is Attorney-at-Law Chandana Liyanapatabendi while, Indra Ladduwahetty is appearing for the defence.

The matter will come up for hearing on December 12. In this case, Lake House is claiming Rs. 100 million as damages.