Defence Secretary trumps Sunday Leader _ awarded Rs 250m

* Stay order ignored

* Allegations false and malicious

Roshan Thushara

Mt. Lavinia District Judge Priyantha Fernando yesterday ordered Leader Publications to pay Rs. 250 million as damages to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for publishing false and malicious articles aimed to defame his good name.

In this case, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had filed action against Leader Publications, and the Editor-in-chief of the Sunday Leader for continuously publishing false and malicious articles defaming him, ignoring a stay order given by the Mt. Lavinia District Court against such publications.

Ali Sabri PC who appeared for the plaintiff said the respondents had continuously published defamatory articles against his client despite a stay order given by court.

He said there was sufficient evidence led in court to prove that these articles drawing the Defence Secretary’s name to a tender regarding the issuing of NIC were completely false and malicious in intent. Ali Sabri PC with Attorneys Rasika Dissanayake, Sanath Fernando and Kasun Premaratne instructed by Sanath Wijewardene appeared for the plaintiff.

Srinath Perera PC appeared for Leader Publications and the Editor of the Sunday Leader.