How Minister Patali responded to in legal case against those who said that Nadeesha was with him in the vehicle
A sensation emerged sometime back when a young man riding a motor bicycle was knocked down by a vehicle driven by Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and after that incident political rumours and 'mud' campaigns began to circulate in a manner bringing him into disrepute. One such story was that the said vehicle was being
driven by the Minister and at that time tele-actress Nadeesha Hemamali was in the company of the Minister.Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka filed a defamation case with District Courts of Colombo about news circulating in connection with the traffic accident and a popular actress combined in the process at a time when the truth or falsity of this talk was not confirmed anywhere. When the Minister appeared in courts yesterday (5) he was questioned by defence lawyers. Minister Mr. Patali Champika Ranawaka had filed legal action against Chief Secretary of the Sri Lanka Electricity Board Ranjan Jayalal and some others demanding a sum of Rs. 5000 lakhs as compensation for defamation he was subjected to by an published in a newspaper in connection with a statement he made at a media briefing.
Defence lawyer: You say that you were disgraced by this incident. But do you realise that you are not a celebrity so as to be defamed?
Minister: Not accepted.
Defence lawyer: Isn't it because the Electricity Board was at a loss that you were removed from the position of Minister in the year 2012?
Minister: I repudiate it.
Defence lawyer: When considering the Rajagiriya accident and propaganda in relation to a well-known actress, the incident relevant to this incident is a minor thing, isn't it?
Minister: Various things are said by the media. I don't accept.
Defence lawyer: When there are serious allegations against you, didn't you file legal action for a minor matter such as this with the motive of gaining political advantage?
Minister: There's no media freedom in this country. There are no such news reporters either. It's only a media mafia that is present. 'Mud' is being thrown around by social media and websites. There's no use from complaints made to press institutions.
(Court information: Ishara Ratnakara -- Mawbima)