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Enjoining order against MTV/Sirasa: Court further extends order

31 Dec 2020

The enjoining order issued against MTV/Sirasa preventing the defamation of George Steuart Health and its Chairman was further extended by the Colombo District Court yesterday (30). Accordingly, the enjoining order against MTV Channel (Pvt.) Ltd. was extended until 8 January 2021. When the case was taken up before Colombo Additional District Judge Lakmali de Silva, the Counsel appearing on behalf of MTV Channel (Pvt.) Ltd. objected to the extension of the enjoining order. The court later decided that it would inquire into the interim order when the case is taken up on 8 January, and therefore extended the enjoining order to that date.  The enjoining order had been issued against MTV Channel in November, after considering a defamation case filed by George Steuart Health (Pvt.) Ltd., over a defamatory news broadcast on its Prime Time News telecasts against the company and its Chairman Dilith Jayaweera. The case had been filed over several false and defamatory news segments telecast by Sirasa and News 1st on 11, 13, 16, and 19 November, referring to the import of Covid-19 rapid antigen test kits by George Steuart Health. The plaintiff had listed out the repeated instances of fabricated, factually incorrect news, designed with malicious intent to mislead the public, and thereby defame George Steuart Health, as well as the Chairman of George Steuart & Co. The damages claimed amount to Rs. 2 billion. The enjoining order, issued on 23 November, was extended on 7 December, further extended on 18 December, and today prevents MTV Channel, its agents, and employees from defaming George Steuart Health, its Chairman, and its key officers in any manner and in any forum whatsoever.


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