Ex-President sends letter of demand to Foreign Minister

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sent a letter of demand to Foreign Minister Managala Samaraweera, seeking Rs 1 billion in damages over an alleged defamatory statement the latter had made.

At a press conference last Thursday (7), Mangala had accused the recently ousted president and his family of having siphoned off funds worth more than $18 billion during Rajapaksa’s terms in power.

“We believe that the Rajapaksas hold assets worth over $18 billion (approximate Rs237,933,000,000) in foreign countries,” he said, citing a report received from foreign intelligence services.

However, Rajapaksa denied the allegations in a statement issued the very next day while charging that the government was utilizing the “devious means” by which false propaganda against him is being disseminated.

The letter of demand sent to Samaraweera by Attorney-at-Law Athula Priyadarshana de Silva, on behalf of his client Mahinda Rajapaksa, states that the allegations are defamatory and had caused discredit to his client.  

It says that while the damages caused to Mr Rajapaksa’s reputation by the comments cannot be estimated his client will be seeking a sum of Rs 1 billion as compensation.

The letter of demand also warns that in the event Samaraweera fails pay the aforementioned sum within 21 days, legal action will be instigated against him.