“Apologise Or Pay Me $3.8M” Minister Rishad Bathiudeen Demands BBS Gnanasara
March 25, 2014
Minister Rishad Bathiudeen today sent a Letter of Demand seeking $ 3.8 Million (Rs 500 Million) in compensation for defamatory statements made by the Bodu Bala Sena.
Minister Bathiudeen’s LoD is addressed to the BBS secratery monk Galagodaatte Gnanasara.
Minister Rishad Badurdeen
“In the aftermath of the end of war thanks to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we Muslims were looking forward to a new beginning. But we are facing new problems. After more than 20 years, these Muslim IDPs are not re-settled yet. Many Mosques and Muslim schools in their places of origin stand destroyed. We do not get any support from anyone on this resettlement. Meanwhile, I have been wrongly accused of destruction of the Wilpattu National Park, creating an exclusive Muslim Zone from Wilpattu to Mannar and creating an ‘arab colony’ in Sri Lanka in the Mannar – Wilpattu area” said Minister Bathiudeen, and added: “These are clearly defamatory. And they are intended to create anti-Muslim feelings. I demand an apology for these false statements from BBS and if no apology is made to me or no retraction is made in the next two weeks, I ask BBS for $ 3.8 Mn in compensation. If no compensation is made, then I will institute legal proceedings.”
Minister Bathiudeen’s Letter of Demand through Attorney at Law Ravindra Jayalath, Colombo 12, is reproduced below in full;
Ravindra Jayalath-Attorney at Law
March 24th, 2014
Reverend Galagodawatte Gnanasara Thero
Secretary – General
Bodu Bala Sena
Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Mawatha,
Colombo 7
Dear Reverend Sir,
Defamatory Statements made against Honourable Minister Rishad Bathiudeen M P – Minister of Industry and Commerce
I am instructed by my client the Honourable Minister of Industry and Commerce and Member of Parliament Minister Rishad Bathiudeen C37 Stanmore Crescent, Colombo 7.
My client has been made aware that at a press conference held in Colombo in or around March 20th, 2014 you have stated that; Read More
