A high-stakes legal confrontation has erupted as Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa moves to recover Rs. 2 billion in damages over what he calls a deliberate and malicious attempt to destroy his public reputation.
Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has taken formal legal steps to issue a demand letter seeking Rs. 2 billion in compensation from former parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa and Swarnavahini Rupavahini Media Corporation. The claim demands Rs. 1 billion from each party for allegedly making and broadcasting a false and defamatory statement against the Minister.
According to the demand letter, on or about 2026.02.06, Wimal Weerawansa made a public statement at a meeting covered by electronic, print, and online media, creating the impression that Dr. Jayatissa had purchased goods worth approximately Rs. 1 million in India using a credit card belonging to the owner of a blacklisted pharmaceutical company.
The statement was subsequently broadcast by Swarnavahini television as a special news segment titled “Story of the Day” on 2026.02.07 at 6.50 p.m., along with an editorial introduction. The Minister maintains that the allegation is entirely false, baseless, and calculated to mislead the public.
Dr. Jayatissa has asserted that the statement was made with the clear intention of maliciously damaging his reputation and undermining public confidence in his role as Minister of Health and Mass Media. He has further stated that Swarnavahini rebroadcast the allegation without conducting any inquiry into its accuracy or seeking clarification from him.
The demand letter notes that the Minister was not given any opportunity to respond or present his position during the program. In addition, the broadcast has since been uploaded and widely circulated across internet and social media platforms, amplifying the alleged reputational harm.
Through his legal representatives, Dr. Jayatissa has formally notified Wimal Weerawansa, Ben Holdings (PVT) Ltd, and EAP Broadcasting Company Limited to pay compensation of Rs. 1 billion each for the damage caused by the defamatory publicity.
The notice also warns that further legal action will be initiated if the demanded compensation is not settled within the stipulated period.
