Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT) initiated legal action yesterday against SJB Parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara in the Colombo District Court, requesting him to pay a sum of Rs. One Billion as damages, averring that irreparable loss and damage has been caused to SLT’s brand image and reputation by “grossly unfounded and false statements.”

Issuing a statement, SLT states the following, “Nanayakkara, in September, alleged SLT hosted National Medicines and Regulatory Authorities (NMRA) data storage, and wrongfully implied that SLT and Chairman of SLT intentionally destroyed NMRA’s data for ulterior motives.

Under the legal action, SLT seeks for a Judicial declaration that the statements made by Mr. Nanayakkara was made with the intention of causing mischief and defaming the company.

SLT states Mr. Nanayakkara has acted with express malice against the company, unlawfully and against SLT’s legal rights, in making the above statement, and that Mr. Nanayakkara has no lawful defense based on truthfulness, public benefit or privilege.

Prior to instituting legal action, SLT sent two Letters of Demand to Mr. Nanayakkara requesting to publish a correction and to remove his erroneous posting from digital platforms to which Mr. Nanayakkara did not adhere to, even though at the time of him making the statement it was public knowledge that NMRA data was not held by SLT prior or after the incident and it was held by another company.

Further Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has initiated an investigation based on the statement made by the company on this issue and the CID has recorded a statement from Mr. Nanayakkara.”