Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala stated in Parliament today (10) that if Namal Rajapaksa, who has sent him a defamation notice seeking one billion rupees in damages, fails to file the case in the Colombo District Court on the due date, he will file a counterclaim against him.
He made this remark in response to a matter raised in Parliament regarding a defamation case against him over a statement made on the 7th, where he displayed a photograph of Namal Rajapaksa in connection with drug trafficking.
Deputy Minister Watagala said:
“It was mentioned in this House that MP Chanaka had sent a defamation notice on behalf of his national organizer, Namal Rajapaksa. But when it comes to social media, the defamation suit is also on social media. I have not officially received it.
Namal is going to file a defamation case. I think he has not practiced in court and therefore does not understand the nature of such a case. The key aspect of a defamation case is that the defendant can ask the complainant any question, unlike in other cases, where only subject-related questions are allowed. That is why a person who files such a case must have clean hands, because character becomes the main issue.
He claims to hold a law degree from a university in England. If he files the case, I will cross-examine him. They have given him only 14 days from today, which means the deadline is around the 24th or 25th. I urge him to file the case by then. Once he does, I will cross-examine him.”
