The Colombo District Court today issued an enjoining order against YouTuber Dharshana Handungoda, preventing him from further circulating defamatory videos against two officials of the Attorney General’s Department.
Colombo Chief District Court Judge Purnima Paranagama made this order pursuant to two lawsuits filed by Additional Solicitor General Vikum de Abrew and Senior State Counsel Nayomi Kahavita. This enjoining order will be effective until May 10.
The plaintiffs, two officers attached to the Attorney General’s Department, instituted action in the District Court of Colombo against defendant Dharshana Hadungoda for allegedly defaming the plaintiffs by commenting on their professional conduct in relation to the institution of action in Singapore to recover damages relating to the X-Press Pearl incident. In the said video, the defendant allegedly portrayed the plaintiffs’ conduct relating to the X-Press Perl incident as that of corrupt and dishonest officers who had defrauded the state.
After considering the submissions made by President’s Counsel Kuvera De Zoysa, who appeared on behalf of the plaintiffs, the Court issued an enjoining order against the defendant, preventing him from further circulating the said defamatory video.
President’s Counsel Kuvera De Zoysa and Counsel Pasindu Bandara, instructed by Attorney-at-Law Sanjay Fonseka, appeared for the two state officials.
