Rehan Jayawickreme seeks Rs. 500 Mn compensation from NPP MP

July 10, 2025 at 11:18 AM

Former Weligama Urban Council Chairman Rehan Jayawickreme has demanded compensation of Rs. 500 million from NPP MP Asitha Niroshana over defamatory comments made during a televised interview on local media. 

Sending a Letter of Demand (LoD), Jayawickreme’s lawyer points out that the mention of ‘Rehan’ in his comments is understood by the public to be a reference to his client.

Stating that the statement is false and defamatory, the LoD demands that the compensation of Rs. 500 million be paid within 14 days of receiving the letter.

NPP MP Asitha Niroshana has been further warned that in the event he fails to settle the compensation, then Rehan Jayawickreme will move to initiate legal action against him.

Commenting on the NPP MP’s remarks on him, Rehan Jayawickreme demanded that the MP prove every word he said in court.

“You can attack my politics. You can twist my words. But don’t drag my name through the mud with reckless claims about drugs and the underworld. I have a family. I have young children. I have worked hard to stay true to who I am and what I stand for. I don’t need an apology from the MP. But if he thinks I will let this slide, he is wrong. He will now have to prove every word he said in court,” he said, in a post on ‘X’. (Newswire)