Former Chairman of the Nagoda Pradeshiya Sabha Ananda Lanerolle has issued a public apology to former Justice Minister Ali Sabry, after reaching a settlement over alleged defamatory statements made to the media in 2021.
President’s Counsel Ali Sabry instituted legal proceedings before the District Court of Colombo against Ananda Lanerolle for making false and defamatory allegations during a press conference by the Citizens’ Organisation for Democracy held on or around 10th May 2021.
During the press briefing, Lanerolle had claimed that, during his tenure as Minister of Justice, Ali Sabry had influenced the Balapitiya High Court Judge in a pending matter by causing a letter to be sent.
When the matter was called before the Colombo District Judge yesterday, Lanerolle unequivocally admitted that the statement he made at the press conference was false, and that Ali Sabry had no involvement whatsoever in the alleged incident.
As part of the settlement reached between the parties, the defendant agreed to publish an apology in a national Sinhala-language newspaper within two weeks from today.
Lenarolle further undertook to deposit Rs. 1 million to the account of Maharagama Cancer Hospital as compensation. (Newswire)