S.A.C. Ranawaka vs Upali Chandrawansha and Pradeshiya Sabha, Lankapura – SC APPEAL NO. 135/2012-2018

In the case between S.A.C. Ranawaka (Plaintiff Respondent Appellant) and Upali Chandrawansha, Revenue Administrator, Pradeshiya Sabha (Defendant Appellant Respondent), the court addressed whether a statement made by the Defendant during an official Pradeshiya Sabha meeting constituted actionable defamation. The court held that the statement was made within the scope of privileged communication and lacked animus injuriandi, thereby establishing that no defamation had occurred. The principle reaffirmed was that official communications made in the course of duty, absent proven malice, are protected from defamation liability. This decision relied upon the evaluation of the privileged status of official utterances and requirements for animus injuriandi, highlighting the necessity for clear evid