Several online lending companies have filed five defamation suits in the Attanagalla District Court against social media activists who spread malicious and inaccurate information about online lending through Facebook and WhatsApp.
The defendants named in these cases, filed by members of the Digital Alternative Lending Association (DALA) including AV Business Solutions (CashX), Fintech Software Solutions (Loanme), Zephyr Solutions (Pvt) Ltd.- Lotus Loan, Oncredit, and S.F. Group (S F Group-Fino.lk), are Agampodige Thivanka Chaturanga Lakshman alias Tutu of Veyangoda, Tarinda Bandara Thiskumara of Gampola, and Vanni Athapattu Mudianselage Nilantha Kumara of Mahawa.
Attanagalla District Judge Keshara Samaradivakara has ordered the defendants to appear in court on May 21, 2024.
The plaintiffs are seeking Rupees 500 million for defamation and an additional Rupees 350 million for business losses, totaling Rupees 4,250 million, due to false and hateful statements on social networks. They claim that their online loan services are legal and regulated by DALA.
The plaintiffs conduct business according to national laws and are self-regulated through DALA, registered under the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007. They argue that online lending is a common practice worldwide, citing countries like Poland, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and others. The plaintiffs seek injunctions against the defendants for spreading defamatory and unlawful misinformation.
