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)

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Former Weligama Mayor and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) member Rehan Jayawickrema has raised concerns over the threats to Sri Lanka due to the surge in Israeli tourists in Arugam Bay. 

Commenting on the travel advisory issued by the US Embassy in Colombo on potential threats to its citizens in Arugam Bay, as a result, Rehan Jayawickrema pointed out that Sri Lanka was now facing a serious security threat that could derail the nation’s tourism recovery efforts.

Taking to ‘X’, he said the illegal activities of certain Israeli business owners have persisted for far too long and that despite numerous appeals to various governments to put an end to this and ensure fair play, these requests have been ignored.

Calling on the authorities to address this situation with urgency, he said “If these warnings continue to be dismissed, the repercussions for Sri Lanka could be more severe than we anticipate.”

Rehan Jayawickrema went on to note that as the Arugam Bay season winds down, the Southern season begins, but the presence of heavy roadblocks in Weligama was already causing fear among tourists, casting a shadow over their sense of safety.

“To those Israelis fueling this instability, let me make one thing clear: you cannot forcefully and illegally occupy our lands as you have done elsewhere. You cannot conduct illegal business practices and ruin opportunities for others. Even though we have welcomed you to this beautiful island, this is not your country, and you must respect the laws of this land,” he added.

Concerns have been raised and travel advisories have been issued by several countries after reports of a surge in Israeli tourists in Arugam Bay, their recent occupation of a building in the area, and the opening of several shops, and restaurants with signboards in Hebrew. (Newswire)

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) member Rehan Jayawickreme has filed a contempt of court case against former State Minister Diana Gamage, who was recently disqualified from holding a seat in the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Jayawickreme filed a case at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today against Gamage for criticizing the Court’s decision related to her disqualification. 

The petition was submitted through attorney-at-law Tharmaja Tharmaraja, while Rehan Jayawickreme would be represented in court by attorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah.

Meanwhile, the Colombo Chief Magistrate also ordered to name former State Minister Diana Gamage as a suspect, in the case filed with regard to her passport.

Gamage has been named a suspect in the case filed over the incident where a passport was obtained by producing false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.

The court issued the order after the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had submitted a report to the court naming Diana Gamage as a suspect in the case. 

Earlier in May, Diana Gamage was disqualified from Parliament after the Supreme Court ruled that she was not eligible to hold a seat in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. 

The ruling was issued after taking up for consideration the petition that was filed challenging Gamage’s citizenship and right to hold a Parliamentary seat due to her British citizenship. (Newswire)

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