Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa has issued a legal notice demanding Rs. 1 billion in damages from YouTube content creator Dharmasri Kariyawasam, accusing him of spreading false propaganda linking the Minister’s name to the importation of a controversial medicine and thereby causing public unrest.
According to the notice, issued via Jayatissa’s legal team, investigations are already underway into ten medicines, including Ondansetron Injection, manufactured by India’s Maan Pharmaceutical Limited.
This medicine was recently suspended by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) along with nine other injectable drugs following reports of complications.
Despite this, Kariyawasam, through his YouTube Channel, had published a widely viewed program titled “The hidden story of the Indian drug that claimed lives, Mayor Balthasar’s relative, and Minister Nalinda’s cover-up.”
The program allegedly portrayed Minister Jayatissa as directly responsible for importing the drug, colluding with the supplier, and attempting to conceal the issue, while depicting him as indifferent to public suffering.
The Minister’s lawyer asserts that these claims are false, defamatory, and damaging to his reputation, citing specific excerpts where Kariyawasam accused him of lying about the supplier, hiding facts about PTC Medicals Pvt Ltd, the actual importer, and showing no concern for deaths linked to the drug.
The program also alleged connections between PTC Medicals’ directors and Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar’s family, suggesting political favouritism.
The legal notice warns that unless Kariyawasam ceases publishing such defamatory content immediately, legal proceedings will be initiated without further notice. (Newswire)
