Sunday Leader Editor sues Lake House

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 December 1999, 16:41 GMT]
Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga has claimed Two hundred million rupee damages from the Lake House Newspapers and Daily news Editor Geolf Wijisinghe for publishing articles defamatory of him.

The plaint filed by his counsel G.G.Arulpragasam complained to Court that the article conveyed the impression that Lasantha Wickrematunge is a person involved in conspiracy against the government, that he was working with the UNP, that he will be rewarded with a Ministerial post if a government led by UNP comes to power and that he was engaging in illegal attempts to topple the government.

The plaintiff stated that consequent to the publication of the article the plaintiff suffered grave injury to his reputation as a professional and as an Editor of a national newspaper. Additional District Judge N.Yogasigamany issued summons on Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd and the Daily News Editor Geoff Wijesinghe.

President's counsel Romesh de Silva with Chanaka de Silva instructed by G.G.Arulpragasam appeared for the plaintiff.