Actor Hemal Ranasinghe has been released under conditions following a settlement over an alleged assault on film critic Lakmina Ranasinghe.
Mount Lavinia Magistrate Kanchana Neranjala Silva ordered his release on Thursday (10) after a Mediation Board report was submitted to court.
Under the settlement, Hemal Ranasinghe agreed to admit responsibility for the assault and apologise to Lakmina Ranasinghe, while Lakmina also agreed to forgive him.
The agreement further requires Hemal Ranasinghe not to insult, defame or otherwise disparage the film critic through the media or social media.
He also agreed to pay Rs. 500,000 in compensation to Lakmina Ranasinghe.
However, Senior Counsel Ajith Pathirana, appearing for Lakmina Ranasinghe, told court that the film critic was still being subjected to insults and defamatory comments on social media despite the condition in the settlement.
Pathirana also informed court that the Rs. 500,000 compensation paid by Hemal Ranasinghe would be donated to the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital with the consent of the affected party. (Newswire)
