Ranil to sue President for defamation after Dec 22
[25 Nov 1999]

COLOMBO. Opposition Leader and presidential hopeful Ranil Wickremasinghe has issued a letter through his lawyers to Mr Kusumsiri Balapatabendi, Secretary to the President, charging President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge with defamation.

 

     Mr Wickremasinghe is seeking damages of Rs.500 million.

     The President has been accused of distorting Mr. Wickremasinghe's statement regarding the hand-over of the North East to the LTTE in a press release titled "Statement by the President on Ranil Wickremasinghe's offer to allow LTTE administration of the North and East". The statement calls Ranil Wickremasinghe "dishonourable" and states that his "bona fides on the ethnic problems are highly questionable."

 

     Mr. Wickremasinghe has called for an apology and retraction from the President and has stated that he will take legal action after the 22nd of December, following the Presidential election, when the President will no longer be entitled to her immunities.

     He has also challenged President Kumaratunga to a public debate on the issue.

 

     Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mr. Wickremasinghe also called for an apology from the heads of the state media institutions of Rupavahini, ITN, SLBC, ANCL and the head of the Government Information Department, Ariya Rubesinghe, regarding what he described as articles that are defamatory of him.

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