Prins Gunasekera v. Associated News Papers of Ceylon Limited – SC APPEAL 141/2011-2015

In the case between Prins Gunasekera (Plaintiff/Appellant/Respondent) and Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Defendant/Respondent/Appellant), the court addressed the issue of whether a published article attributed to the plaintiff was defamatory in its plain and ordinary meaning and whether the quantum of damages awarded was justified based on actual evidence of harm. It was determined that the article was indeed defamatory to the plaintiff but that the damages of Rs.5,000,000 awarded by the Court of Appeal were excessive, given the plaintiff’s primary residence in England and the absence of clear evidence of harm to his reputation within Sri Lanka. The court accordingly reduced the compensatory award to Rs.2,000,000. This decision reaffirmed the principle that damages in defamation