Hiru's lawsuit against the NewsCenter digital media outlet, filed using the OSA, dismissed by court

(Colombo- Sri Lanka) The petition filed by the Hiru media institution against MB Creations Pvt Ltd, the parent company of the NewsCenter media outlet, and six of its staff members, including the managing director, has been dismissed by Kaduwela Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe.

Hiru’s lawsuit was filed after NewsCenter’s YouTube channel and Facebook page published a statement made by Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage. Hiru obtained a conditional order from the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court against MB Creations Pvt Ltd, its Managing Director Manjula Basnayake, News Manager Ananda Medagedara, Assistant News Manager Samitha Lakshan, and Editor Kavindu Manaranga.

The petition alleged that Hiru’s reputation was damaged when NewsCenter published a video of Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage's speech. In the speech, Hewage referred to a media outlet created with "drug money" and made a comment about Duminda Silva, who is on death row. While Hewage never explicitly named Hiru, the petition claimed that NewsCenter’s inclusion of the name "Hiru" in its news coverage harmed the company's reputation and could provoke a riot.

However, Senior Counsel Lakshan Dias, who appeared on behalf of MB Creations Pvt Ltd, filed an objection in the Magistrate’s Court, arguing that the charges were baseless.

The lawyer for the defendant further stated, "The petitioner has abused the law and attempted to mislead this honorable court by presenting false facts, claiming that the defendants have committed an offense under Section 14 of the Online Safety Act through this petition. Despite this, the defendants have demonstrated in their initial objections and written submissions that this case cannot be filed and maintained as a petition under the 'Online Safety Act No. 09 of 2024 read with Section 136(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979,' as stated in the petitioner’s heading. Therefore, the defendants respectfully requested the court to dismiss the case at the initial stage and revoke the conditional order issued on January 8, 2025."

After considering the plaintiff's new objections, Kaduwela Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe dismissed the petition. Senior Counsel Lakshan Dias, along with junior attorneys Kasuni S. Herath, Yashodhara Ilangasinghe, Manisha Kumarasinghe, Hasini Hettiarachchi, and Nimansa Mitiyagoda, appeared for the defendant, MB Creations Pvt Ltd.

Senior Counsel Jeevantha Liyanage and Thilanka Polgampola appeared for the plaintiff, Hiru Media. (NewsCenter)