The Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, has taken steps to issue demand letters seeking compensation of one billion rupees each from former Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa and Swarnavahini Rupavahini Media Company over an alleged defamatory and false statement made against him.
In a statement issued by the Minister, it was noted that on February 6, 2026, Wimal Weerawansa made a public allegation at a media-covered meeting claiming that Dr. Jayatissa had purchased goods worth around one million rupees in India using a credit card belonging to the owner of a blacklisted pharmaceutical company.
The statement further said that Swarnavahini television broadcast the allegation as a special news item titled “Story of the Day” on February 7, 2026, at 6.50 p.m., without verifying the claim or seeking a response from the Minister.
Dr. Jayatissa has strongly denied the allegation, describing it as completely false, baseless, and malicious, intended to damage his reputation and public trust. Through his legal representatives, demand letters have been sent to Wimal Weerawansa, Ben Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, and EAP Broadcasting Company Limited, warning that legal action will be taken if compensation is not paid.
