An injunction order has been issued against locomotive, driver Indika Dodangoda following a complaint by Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena’s lawyers to the Colombo No. 1 District Court on the damage to the Minister’s reputation due to the publication of false and defamatory allegations in the social media regarding awarding construction contracts of the Railway Department.
On the advice of Ms. Dhammika Chiminige, this complaint was submitted on behalf of her client Minister Dr. Gunawardena, by President’s Counsel V.K. Choksy, and lawyers D.S. Ratnayake and Minoli Alexander for making false statements that the Minister had allegedly received bribes from the concerned Indian company.
The injunction issued by the District Court states that the defendant has no right to insult the plaintiff, either directly or indirectly or through someone else or making statements in any manner in an interview, acting in a manner that is directly or indirectly defaming by oneself or through another person or continuing to defame, in any form of print, oral, social media, directly or indirectly through one’s own or another person’s Facebook account.
The case will be taken up for further hearing on October 11.
Minister Dr. Gunawardena had previously submitted separate complaints to the Criminal Investigation Department and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption regarding the allegations made by Indika Dodangoda.
