PM Harini Sues Tissa Attanayake And A Channel For Defamation

COLOMBO (News 1st); A defamation case filed by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya against former MP Tissa Attanayake was taken up at the Colombo District Court, where the judge ordered a pre-trial conference to be held on 2 December.

The lawsuit seeks Rs. 100 million in damages over a statement made by Attanayake during the 2024 presidential election campaign, alleging that under a government led by the National People's Power (NPP), the Dalada Perahera would be discontinued — a claim the Prime Minister has strongly refuted.

The case names both Tissa Attanayake and a media channel as respondents.

Speaking on the matter, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, stated:

“The opposition keeps calling our government dishonest. But let’s look at the facts. It’s been a year since we came to power. Who’s really spreading lies? This case was filed because of the false claim that we would stop the Dalada Perahera. We’ve already proven that statement false — the Perahera was held successfully. There’s nothing left to prove.”

Watagala further criticized the response submitted by Attanayake:

“Today, the respondents filed their answers, but they didn’t respond to the actual question. Tissa Attanayake’s response is like dodging the issue.”