Anandasangaree defamation case:

Express Newspapers barred from appeal

Wasantha Ramanayake

The Supreme Court yesterday refused Express Newspapers Ltd leave to appeal from a judgement from the Civil Appeal Court.

Appellant-defendants Express Newspapers Ltd, Veerakesari illustrated weekly Editor S. Nadaraja and V. Warja appealed against the judgement of the Provincial Civil Appeal Court that affirmed the judgement of the District Court awarding Rs. 50 million to TULF Leader V. Anandasangaree.

They sought to set aside the judgement of the Civil Appeal Court.

TULF Leader V. Anandasangaree filed the defamation case in the District Court claiming 10 million rupees damages from the respondent-defendants.

Anandasangaree sued the appellant-defendants for an article published in the Veerakesari illustrated weekly dated April 8, 2004 was malicious and defamatory of him.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justice Jagath Balapatabendi and Justice P.A. Ratanayake PC.