The Colombo District Court today further extended the enjoining order preventing Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Hesha Withanage from making defamatory statements based on a draft report of the National Audit Office against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and its office-bearers. This order will be effective until September 22.
The opposition MP, Hesha Withanage, had recently made statements regarding the expenditure involving the T20 Cricket World Cup in Australia last year.
SLC President Shammi Silva and its Secretary Mohan de Silva filed this lawsuit, naming Hesha Withanage as a defendant. They sought an injunction preventing the defendant parliamentarian from defaming them and SLC in any manner by making statements based on the draft report of the National Audit Office.
President’s Counsel Dinal Phillips, appearing for Parliamentarian Hesha Vithanage, informed the court that his client has not received summons and documents pertaining to the plaint.
However, President’s Counsel Ronald Perera, appearing for the SLC, informed the court that the defendant had refused to accept the summons at the time of serving it.
Colombo District Court Judge Sandun Vithana directed the parties to file their written submissions on or before September 15 and announced that the court’s stance regarding dissolving the enjoining order is to be delivered on September 22.
In their complaint, SLC President Shammi Silva and Mohan de Silva alleged that the defendant parliamentarian had made defamatory statements during a press conference held on July 23, 2023, causing grave injury and loss to the good name of Sri Lanka Cricket and the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs stated that they have suffered loss and damage, which they assess at Rs. 500 million.
