MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd sends questionnaire to George Steuart Health (Pvt) Ltd Chairman

COLOMBO (News 1st); MTV Channel Pvt. Ltd. has presented 20 interrogatories to Dilith Jayaweera, the Chairman of George Steuart Health (Pvt) Ltd. regarding the case filed by George Steuart Health Pvt. Ltd. against MTV Channel Pvt. Ltd.

MTV Channel Pvt. Ltd. supported an application through its counsel, President's Counsel Uditha Egalahewa, and submitted to the court that a motion has been filed on the 23rd of March 2022 and 20 interrogatories have been enclosed to the motion while making an application to the court to direct Dilith Jayaweera, Chairman of George Steuart Health (Pvt) Ltd. to answer the 20 interrogatories.

The series of interrogatories inter-alia,

1) Did Hiru TV, Aruna newspapers, and internet news websites telecast and publish defamatory news items pertaining to the importation of Rapid Antigen test kits by the plaintiff company and if so, did the plaintiff company institute legal action and if so, what are the case numbers?

2) Did Dilith Jayaweera, the Chairman of George Steuart Health (Pvt) Ltd, institute legal action bearing No. DMR 216/2012 in the District Court of Colombo?

3) And, by the said judgment in the said case, did the court hold Dilith Jayaweera is not a person with good repute and character?

4) Interrogatories further referred to a book launch on 22.03.2019, of a book named 'Dadabbaraya' and questioned whether Dilith Jayaweera, Chairman of George Steuart Health (Pvt) Ltd. stated in a public audience that,

- He in fact consumes certain types of unlawful drugs and/or unlawful contraband

- He had to take up the position of Chairman because he was going to be imprisoned.

6) Further, other interrogatories are, has the plaintiff company been charged in the Magistrates Court and/or High Court as an accused and if so, what are the case numbers.

7) Has the plaintiff company been charged for violation of the Exchange Control Rules and if so, what was the amount paid as a penalty and when did the incident occur?

8) Has the plaintiff company obtained the necessary approvals from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority prior to the local distribution of Rapid Antigen Test kits, if so, what is the number of the approval, when was the approval granted, and until what date is the approval valid?

9) How many bulk consignments of Rapid Antigen Test Kits have the plaintiff imported thus far and how many times has the same been imported?

10) Having heard the submissions made by the counsel for MTV Channel Pvt. Ltd., the court allowed the application and ordered Dilith Jayaweera, Chairman of George Steuart Health (Pvt) Ltd. to answer interrogatories, and serve the same by Instructing Attorney Sanath Wijewardena.

The case will be taken up again on the 10th of May 2022.

Uditha Egalahewa PC with Miyuru Egalahewa, N.K Ashokbharan, Damitha Karunarathne, and Niranjan Arulpragasam Attorneys-at -Law appeared for the defendant instructed by G.G. Arulpragasam Attorney-at-Law.