Statement issued by George Steuart Health (Pvt) Limited on 23 November 2020

The Colombo District Court today issued an enjoining order against MTV Channel Private Limited in a defamation case filed by George Steuart Health (Pvt) Limited over defamatory news broadcast on its prime time news telecasts.

The Plaint referred to several false and defamatory news segments carried out by Sirasa on News First on 11th, 13th, 16th and 19th November referring to the import of Covid-19 rapid antigen test kits by George Steuart Health.

The Plaintiff in their plaint listed out the repeated instances of mischievously fabricated, factually incorrect news designed with malice to mislead the public and thereby to 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 today prevents MTV Channel and its agents and employees from defaming George Steuart Health, its Chairman and its key officers in any manner in any forum whatsoever.

George Steuart Health pleaded that at all times the Defendant had acted with mala fides, with express malice against them, unlawfully and in violation of the Plaintiff’s rights.

The Plaintiff specifically claimed that the said malice emanates from a longstanding rivalry between the media houses led by George Steuarts and Derana Chairman Dilith Jayaweera and Capital Maharaja Chairman Rajendram Rajamahendran (Killi Maharaja).

George Steuart Health was represented by Romesh de Silva PC, Ruwantha Cooray, Attorney at Law and S Vasanthakumar Niles, Attorney at Law instructed by Sanath Wijewardana, Attorney at Law.