July 29, Colombo (LNW): Former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Janaka Tissa Kuttiarachchi has formally extended an unconditional apology before the Colombo District Court over a controversial statement he made concerning President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Appearing in person at a court session held earlier today (29), the former legislator expressed, through his legal counsel, complete regret for the remarks in question, which he acknowledged had been inappropriate.
His apology comes in response to a high-profile defamation case initiated by President Dissanayake, who had sought Rs. 10 billion in damages.
The lawsuit stems from comments made by Kuttiarachchi during a public rally held on August 19, 2023 in central Colombo, organised by the SLPP. During that gathering, Kuttiarachchi alleged that Dissanayake had channelled five billion rupees into investments in Malta—a claim the President strongly refuted as baseless and damaging to his public image.
In his complaint, President Dissanayake maintained that the accusation was politically motivated and aimed at undermining his credibility by portraying him as corrupt and beholden to foreign financial interests. He asserted that the statement was calculated to tarnish his reputation at a crucial time in national politics.
