• Barred from defaming SLC Ex-Co. and players

Colombo District Court Judge Sandun Vithana on Tuesday (20), imposed an interim injunction valid till 3 June on ex-Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe.

The interim injunction prevents him from making any derogatory statements or remarks, related to officials of the Executive Committee (Ex-Co.) and staff of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and national players.

The Court slapped the interim injunction, pursuant to a petition filed by the President of SLC Shammi Silva and its Secretary Bandula Dissanayake.

The Judge also notified the respondent, ex-Sports Minister to appear before him and produce submissions related to the plaint on the said date. 

The SLC President and Secretary filed a petition before the said Court, seeking damages to the tune of Rs. 500 million s from Ranasinghe, for publicly denigrating the SLC Ex-Co and its members and national players.

The petitioners have charged that the former Minister had publicly remarked that SLC Ex-Co. members had misappropriated its funds to the media, in front of the Kaduwela District Court premises on 5 May. President’s Counsel (PC) Chandaka Jayasundara appeared for the plaintiffs.

Roshan Ranasinghe served as the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs from May 2022 to November 2023.

He was removed from the Cabinet by ex-President Ranil Wickremasinghe, after the former accused the latter of attempting to frame him, when he publicly spoke against corruption at SLC. 

(JK)