Lankan lifesaver sues beach club in Australia

13 March 2013 10:25 am - 4 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

A surf lifesaver of Sri Lankan descent has taken action in the Australian Federal court against the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club claiming the Sydney beach institution racially vilified him.

Indika Roshan Ratnayake told the court in Sydney that he had been the subject of "racial vilification, bullying, and vicarious liability" in his years as a member of the club, according to 'The Australian' newspaper.

The lawyer representing the Bondi club, Stephen McKenzie, raised the possibility of a cross claim against Ratnayake, over "a website that he authors containing what we will say is defamatory and racist material" against some members of the club.

Ratnayake said he did not have sufficient financial resources to hire a lawyer and was instead representing himself.

The presiding judge, Justice Griffiths, gave the parties four weeks to prepare documentation, including statements as to why the case should proceed or not in view of the apparent fact that it was outside the time limit for such applications.

Ratnayake will also be required to produce points of claim against the club.

Outside the court, Ratnayake claimed that he had been barred, unlike other members of the club, from gaining access to surf equipment that would enable him to improve his lifesaving skills, and claimed he had been victim of a "racial slur".

McKenzie declined to answer Ratnayake's allegations outside the court, saying that the case against the club had yet to be clearly made by Ratnayake.

The Bondi surf club's deputy president, Jacob Waks, said the club had called an urgent board meeting to discuss the matter on Tuesday tonight.

Waks said many directors had only found out about the court case at the weekend, and declined to comment further ahead of the board meeting, said 'The Australian'. (Emirates24/7)

See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Flowers, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,News, Courier/Delivery, Food Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka.

Comments - 4

PRAVEEN KUMARAWADU Wednesday, 13 March 2013 07:11 PM

Racism well and alive in Australia. So make no mistake.

jumboo Thursday, 14 March 2013 05:02 AM

Come bk home. If not do.not complain.live with it

weha Wednesday, 13 March 2013 10:46 AM

How can you blame them. after all you guys have gone and ruined the name for everyone.

Dulakshi Jayamanne Wednesday, 13 March 2013 11:12 AM

... why is this chap complaining!

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Lankan lifesaver sues beach club in Australia

Comments - 4

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

Illegal clearing of Attidiya Sanctuary with powerful political patronage

Bio Bubble Bursts on tissa safari drivers

Army’s LRRP Ambush of LTTE’s Military Intelligence Chief

“I don’t think Sri Lankans can be realistically ruled by force” -Ahimsa Wickrematunge

Decisions to be made in Sri Lanka’s hunt for the COVID-19 Vaccine

“I am the Godfather of Russian tourists” - Udayanga Weeratunga

Sri Lankan migrant workers still in limbo

Most Viewed in News

Over 50 hotels out of bounds for locals

Ranjan Ramanayake sentenced to four-year RI for contempt of court

Forced into police jeep…

New COVID-19 variant: Person infected is a visiting overseas cricketer: DHDG

Nathaniel Rothschild in town

Whatsapp: New privacy policy, terms of service to monitor users’ activities: ITSSL

TODAY'S HEADLINES

15,000-20,000 PCR tests needto be done daily to contain the pandemic- Dr. Sudath Samaraweera

State Minister Piyal Nishantha tests positive for Covid-19

RANJAN’S SEAT IN PARLIAMENT FALLEN VACANT

54 persons including 13 girls arrested for partying illegally

MIRROR CRICKET

Clinical England go 1-0 up

Embuldeniya strikes but England close in on a win

Root ton headlines England’s dominant day

Two Staff Members At Englands Team Hotel Test Positive For Coronavirus

Karunaratne to miss second Test

England’s Bairstow, Lawrence seal seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka

Professional full-time administrators, way forward for Cricket in Sri Lanka, says former SLC Sec. Skandakumar

Yasitha de Silva and Anika Seneviratne win Open singles titles