Film critic awarded damages

19 August 2016 01:34 pm

Colombo Additional District Judge, M.A.A. Navaratne ordered popular Sinhala tuition master and film producer Upul Shantha Sannasgala and Powerhouse Private Limited to pay Rs 2.5 million each to journalist, film critic and author Ajith Galappathi for insulting his character during a TV interview on the Derana TV channel in their programme “360”.

The plaintiff Ajith Galapatthi, of No 181/B/7 Suhada Mawatha, Pannipitiya had sued the defendants Powerhouse Private Limited and Dilka Samanmali, both of No 5, Skelton Road Colombo 5 and Upul Shantha Sannasgala of No 192/160 Asiri Uyana, Mattegoda, Polgasowita for insulting the plaintiff’s character intentionally during a TV programme telecast by the Derana TV Channel on July 8 and July 13, 2008.

The plaitiff had claimed Rs 10 million from each of the defendants, claiming that the defendants had intentionally injured the character of the plaintiff in the TV programme "360". The plaintiff contended that the plaintiff was popularly known among the public for last twelve years as a film critic who had been awarded with OCIC awards for his work. (T.Farook Thajudeen)