A writ of summons has been sent to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s new media director, Sisira Senpathi Kahawatte, claiming that he was defamed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s media spokesperson, lawyer Manoj Gamage, seeking compensation of Rs. 600 million.
The writ, sent through lawyer D.M.M.M. Wijeyarathne, states that false information regarding Manoj Gamage has been spread on Facebook, misusing the property of the Presidential Media Division, distorting the facts stated in the COPE Committee of Parliament.
The relevant lawyer has also stated in the affidavit on behalf of Manoj Gamage that, while no facts have been revealed that Manoj Gamage influenced officials while on the board of directors (of the Medicines Regulatory Authority) that imported substandard medicine, he has made a malicious attempt to intentionally create serious hatred, displeasure and/or disrepute among the general public of the country towards his client by spreading false statements among the public that he did so, even though no facts have been revealed.