MR sends Letters of Demand

26 July 2015 08:48 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 31 Bookmark

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Under instructions of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a collective of lawyers had sent Letters of Demand to five persons including Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka for allegedly making defamatory comments about Mr. Rajapaksa.

Speaking at a press briefing held at Opposition Leader’s Office today, the lawyers said Singer Sunil Perera and former UNP MP Nalin Bandara had also been sent Letters of Demand.

According to Mr. Rajapaksa’s lawyers, Rupees one billion had been demanded from Deputy Minister Ramanayaka, JVP Leader Dissanayaka, Singer Sunil Perera and former UNP MP Nalin Bandara each, while Rs.500 million had been demanded from Minister Samaraweera.

Unless the demanded compensations were paid within 14 days from the day the letters received, former President’s lawyers said maximum legal action would be taken against them at court.

Lawyer Sagara Kariyawasam said the five persons had purposely engaged in an exercise to damage former President’s reputation by spreading false and baseless allegations via several TV political discussions and certain persons who conduct the programmes also tried to spread false allegations.

“Our reliable sources have found that certain foreign countries including the United States of America are aiding those politicians to insult the savior of the country, Mahinda Rajapaksa. They are making hate speeches not to just a politician but to a great leader,” Mr. Karaiyawasam said.

The collective consisting 20 lawyers and Senior Presidential Counsels including Jayantha Weerasinghe and W.D. Dayarathne had been formed to take legal action against persons who make baseless statements criticising former President.

“The collective is scrutinizing all public statement made regarding Mr. Rajapaksa,” Kariyawasam said.

“Now, they will have to answer before the law instead of spreading false allegations,” he said. (Piyumi Fonseka)