Colombo District Court decides to hear Arjuna's defamatory case against unionists

The Colombo District Court today (Jun 24) decided to commence hearings of three defamatory cases filed against three trade union leaders belonging to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority by Minister Arjuna Ranatunga.

This was announced when proceedings began before Colombo Chief District Judge Amali Ranaweera today.

Mr. Ranatunga, the former Ports Minister, had filed cases union leaders Prasanna Kalutharage, Lal Bangamuwa, and Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya President, Udeni Kaluthanthri.

He had claimed Rs 500 million from each of the accused as compensation.

During the forthcoming hearings, the Minister would be represented by Senior State Counsel Athula Bandara along with lawyers Shashika de Silva, Semini Pothuwila and Chathusala Jayasinghe.

Senior State Counsel Bandara told the press today, that Mr. Ranatunga had filed separate charges against the three suspects. Further he said the Minister had filed these cases owing to incidents which took place during his tenure as Ports Minister.