Case against Sunday Leader postponed for January 19

(November 05, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian)The case against the Sunday Leader newspaper for publishing an article defamatory of the Defence Secretary, on the purchase of MIG aircraft, was taken up today at the Mount Lavinia District Court before Mount Lavinia Additional District Judge Mackie Mohamed. The Defence Secretary was also present in court today.

The case has been filed demanding Rs. one billion as compensation.

Giving evidence today, Jayanath Kumarasiri, Director, Aeronautical Engineering of the Air Force said that in 2004, Sri Lanka had only three MIG 27 aircraft and those too were not in a serviceable condition.

As such the need had arisen to purchase new MIG aircraft, he said.

The case is to be taken up again on January 19 where the director is to give further evidence.

-Sri Lanka Guardian