Namal Karunaratne, the National Organizer of the All Ceylon Farmers has sent a letter of demand to Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage seeking Rs. 500 million in compensation.
This is against a verbal insult made by the Minister regarding Namal Karunaratne’s involvement in the ongoing farmers’ protests.
The summons has been sent to Minister Aluthgamage by Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala requesting him to pay Rs. 500 million as compensation within 14 days. It also said it would take legal action if the money was not paid within two weeks.
The lawyer stated that the insulting statement made by Mahindananda Aluthgamage was aired on two private TV channels on October 17.
The lawyer alleges that Namal Karunaratne has obtained money from chemical fertilizer companies to bring farmers to the streets demanding fertilizer for the Maha season.
The lawyer says the allegations made by the minister against his client are baseless and fabricated to tarnish his client’s reputation as an active politician affiliated to the JVP.
