The Minister has sent letters demanding Rs. 1 billion each from former MP Wimal Weerawansa and Swarnavahini Media Corporation for publishing and broadcasting a defamatory and false statement against Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
On or about 2026-02-06, former Member of Parliament Wimal Weerawansa, at a public meeting convened by electronic, print and other online media, made a public statement in a manner that made the public feel and believe that the Minister of Health and Mass Media had purchased goods worth about 1 million in India using a credit card belonging to an owner of a blacklisted pharmaceutical company.
Similarly, the Swarnavahini television channel has also broadcasted the said statement as a special news item titled “Story of the Day” on 2026.02.07 at 6.50 p.m. This statement made by Wimal Weerawansa is a completely false and baseless statement, and it is clearly evident that it was made with the intention of maliciously damaging the reputation and public trust of Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa as the Minister of Health and Mass Media.
While rebroadcasting this statement with an introduction, Swarnavahini has not made any inquiry from the Minister of Health and Mass Media regarding its veracity, nor has the Minister been given an opportunity to present his views on the matter through the said program. Also, this advertisement has already been uploaded and made public on the internet and social media platforms.
Accordingly, the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, through his lawyer, has informed Wimal Weerawansa and Swarnavahini Rupavahini to pay one billion rupees each for the damage caused to their reputation due to the aforementioned defamatory propaganda. Otherwise, further legal action will be taken.