Court orders Arjuna to pay Rs.25 million compensation to Thilanga

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Mount Lavinia Civil Appellate High Court has ordered Chairman of the National Sports Council and former Sri Lanka Test Cricket Captain Arjuna Ranatunga to pay a compensation of Rs. 25 million to former Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala.

Civil Appellate High Court Judges Harsha Senatunga and Devapriya Gunawardena had delivered this judgment pursuant to defamatory action filed by former Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala.

In his original lawsuit at Nugegoda District Court, Sumathipala had sought compensation of Rs. 500 million from Ranatunga for making a defamatory statement at a press conference held in 2003. The plaintiff alleged that Ranatunga has made a statement claiming that he is not suitable to serve as Sri Lanka Telecom chairperson or any similar position.

The District Court had refused to issue an order in favour of Sumathipala and then he filed an appeal before Civil Appellate High Court challenging the legality of the order made by District Court.

The plaintiff Thilanga Sumathipala alleged that the defamatory statement had been made with malicious intention to harm his reputation.