Media Image Ltd v. Dissanayake – sllr 2006 volume 3 page 215

The case between Media Image Ltd (plaintiff) and Dissanayake (defendant), concerning actions by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, addressed whether, in contempt proceedings under Section 793 of the Civil Procedure Code, the trial court must form an objective opinion regarding the sufficiency of grounds before issuing summons. The court held that such an opinion is mandatory, and further determined that the impugned order rejecting preliminary objections was interlocutory, not final, precluding the right to a final appeal. These findings reaffirmed the principle that courts must establish prima facie evidence before commencing contempt proceedings, relying on relevant precedents and statutory interpretation. The decision emphasized procedural safeguards and clarified the distinction bet