By Yohan Perera and Ranjith Rajapakse   

The alleged physical fisticuffs between MPs Mahindananda  Aluthgamage and Gunathilaka Rajapaksha is being converted into a legal  battle, with the former slated to file a defamation case against his  colleague.   

MP Aluthgamage had instructed his lawyers to send a  letter of demand to MP Rajapaksha whom he said had made a false  allegation of assault. 

“Eyewitnesses have said they have not seen any fisticuffs  at the Presidential Secretariat. Also, I have got affidavits of five  state ministers who deny fisticuffs. I will use this for my defamation  case,” the MP said. 

 
The MP said he only had a verbal battle with MP Rajapaksha.  “Rajapaksha was shouting at me in an aggressive manner and I got into a  verbal battle with him when he did not calm down,” he said.   

Responding to a remark which MP Rajapaksha that he would  reveal everything about the incident in Parliament, Mr. Aluthgamage said he  will file a defamation case on what his colleague has said to this  date. 

 
MP Rajapaksha has claimed that he had handed over  statements of four eyewitnesses to police for investigations. Also, the  MP said had told the media that he would reveal everything about the  incident in Parliament.   
The two MPs clashed at the Presidential Secretariat on June 3, 2024, where MP Rajapaksha was hospitalized.