RW’s adviser sends letter of demand to Minister Vidyaratne

Adviser to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that former Governor of the Southern Province Keerthi Thennekoon has sent in a letter of demand to Minister of Plantations Samantha Vidyaratne asking him to pay Rs 100 million as damages for the alleged defamatory statements the latter had made.

In the letter dated January 24, 2025, Thennekoon's lawyers had wanted the Minister to pay Rs 100 million within 14 days from the date he received the letter. "We will be compelled to file legal action claiming damages if you fail to make the payment within the mentioned period," the letter of demand said.

'I have been instructed by my client to state that, you were a speaker at a news conference organized at the Ministry of Plantation Industries on 9th January 2024 under your patronage. Your speech at the news conference was reported on your Facebook profile and, thereafter, on several social media platforms and newspapers.