Mahindananda to file defamation case against Gunathilaka Rajapaksha

By Yohan Perera and Ranjith Rajapaksha

The alleged 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 has instructed his lawyers to send a letter of demand to MP Rajapaksasha whom he said had made a false allegation of assault against him.

“Eyewitnesses have said have not witnessed any fisticuffs at the Presidential Secretariat. Also I have obtained affidavits from five State Ministers who deny there had been 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 refused to be restrained,” he said in this regard.

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

MP Rajapakssha has claimed that he had handed over statements of four eyewitnesses to police for investigations. Also the MP said he 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 following which MP Rajapaksha was hospitalized.