Upul Shantha and Derana 360 defeated in the defamation case. Instructed to pay 50 lakhs!
Upul Shantha Sannasgala who participated in the 'Derana 360' Programme which was broadcast over the Derana Channel has defamed the goodwill of a former pupil and cinema critic Ajith Galappaththi and the latter had filed a case against him and the case had come to a close with both parties Derana
and Upul Shantha being defeated. Under these circumstances the Derana Channel and Upul Shantha Sannasgala were ordered by courts to pay damages of Rs. 50 lakhs.The above-mentioned programme went over the air on 8th July 2008 and had repeatedly been broadcast on 13th July 2008. In the said programme Mr. Sannasgala is alleged to have mentioned in that programme that Ajith Galappaththi had requested a payment to forward a criticism to the media on the film "Thani thatuwen piyambanna" which film had been produced by Mr. Sannasgala. The reason for saying so took place on the occasion that the female announcer had inquired about an instance when a criticism of Ajith appeared on a leaflet subjected to some changes effected in a partially favourable manner. What has been stated in the final judgement is that a defamatory statement has been directed at the prosecutor Ajith Galappaththi and that under those circumstances he had suffered public damage to some extent.
Colombo Additional District Judge Mr. A.A. Anawaratna has ordered Derana and Sannasgala to pay a fine of Rs. 50 lakhs. Ajith Galappaththi has during schooldays also attended a popular Sinhala advanced level supporting class of Upul Shantha Sannasgala.