Dulanjalee Jayakody, the sister of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, is to take legal action with regard to false statements defamatory of her and attributed to JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
These statements are contained in a recent video in circulation in social media platforms over forged currency notes given her in a business transaction.
The matter was tried in the Colombo High Court and one H.M.A.K.R.M. Perera pleaded guilty in the case and awarded her Rs. 2,000,000 as compensation, said Jayakody’s lawyer Farman J. Cassim.
In a statement, the lawyer spoke of further action against individuals responsible and/or involved in the sharing of such false, defamatory statements on social media platforms.
Full statement by Dulanjalee Jayakody’s lawyer:
This statement is representative of Mrs Dulanjalee Jayakody (nee Premadasa) of No.93, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7, in light of a recent “video” in circulation amongst various social media platforms containing several false and/or defamatory remarks made by Hon Anura Kumara Dissanayake, involving “Mrs Dulanjalee Jayakody”.
The merits of the facts of the said case were tried in Case bearing No. HC/8378/15 at the High Court of Colombo, whereas, inter alia, one Mr H.M.A.K.R.M. Perera pleaded guilty on the 22nd of May 2017 for illegally printing forged currencies and handing them over to Mrs Dulanjalee Jayakody in lieu of a business financial transaction. Furthermore Mrs Dulanjalee Jayakody was awarded Rs. 2,000,000/- as compensation in Court on the 21st of July 2017.
Thus, Mrs Dulanjalee Jayakody vehemently states that all accusations pertaining to the incident were tried before Colombo High Court judge Hon Gihan Pilapitiya, which Hon Anura Kumara Dissanayake being a member of the parliament seems neither privy nor chooses not to be aware nor informed of or in the alternative seems to insinuate that the said matter was not properly tried and heard before Justice Pilapitiya.
In light of the “video” seen on social media platforms, in which Hon Anura Kumara Dissanayake is making false, derogatory, defamatory and harmful statements involving Mrs Dulanjalee Jayakody is nothing but a mere ruse done for collateral purposes, in an attempt to manipulate the opinion of the general public to lower the public image of Mrs Dulanjalee Jayakody.
Mrs Dulanjalee Jayakody reiterates that the actions of Hon Anura Kumara Dissanayake are an example of how baseless, unfounded, fabricated, defamatory and/or slanderous information, messages and/or comments in abuse one’s freedom of speech and expression are made to the detriment of others on various social media platforms which violates very basic media ethics and moral obligations of such social media platforms. The basic standard of publication of such news items is to verify the facts and views of the affected party, which the social media outlets have failed and neglected to do.
Mrs Dulanjalee Jayakody states that such defamatory actions of individuals and the publications of the same by social media outlets are an example of the dangers posed by irresponsible and/or unethical use of social media and the reckless dissemination of the same by its recipients, which are destructive to the reputation of many, including safety and well-being of herself and/or her family.
In view of the aforesaid defamatory statements, Mrs Dulanjalee Jayakody intends to take action including but not limited to seeking redress in an appropriate Court of Law. Further action shall be taken in respect of individuals responsible and/or involved in the sharing of such false, defamatory statements on social media platforms for the unethical manipulation of the general public, with the appropriate authorities even though the legal process is a long arduous one.
Farman J. Cassim
