Chief Electronic Engineer v. G.M. De Silva – CA APPLICATION NO. 652/97F-2016

In the case between G.M. De Silva (Plaintiff-Respondent) and the Chief Electronic Engineer, Airport and Aviation Services Ltd, Sri Lanka (Defendant-Appellant), the court examined whether the District Court of Mt. Lavinia possessed territorial jurisdiction, whether the defendant’s conduct amounted to actionable defamation, and the applicability of the defense of qualified privilege. It was determined that the District Court’s award of damages for defamation was justified on both legal and evidentiary grounds. The decision reaffirmed that a finding of malice negates the defense of qualified privilege and that when factual findings, including those on intent and credibility, are supported by the trial record, appellate interference is unwarranted. The holding relied on relevant Sri Lankan pro