From Adaderana
The Sunday Leader has tendered
an unconditional apology to former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in
courts for a defamatory publication regarding MiG aircraft purchases.
The defamation case filed by
Gotabaya Rajapaksa against Lasantha Wickrematunge and the Sunday Leader on its
reporting on MiG 27 purchase by the Defence Ministry was taken up at the
District Court of Mt. Lavinia today.
The controversial MiG 27 deal
was first revealed by Sunday Times Defence Correspondent and Senior Journalist
Iqbal Athas in December 2006 and further exposed in The Sunday Leader then
edited by murdered Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.
The Sri Lankan weekly newspaper,
in its article, had alleged massive financial fraud during the purchasing of
the aircraft.
Full Apology issued by the
Sunday Leader;
APOLOGY TO MR. GOTABHAYA
RAJAPAKSHE
The Sunday Leader Newspaper had carried
out the following articles regarding the purchase of MIG 27 aircrafts to Sri
Lanka Air Force through the Ministry of Defense;
MIG DEAL CRASH LANDS ON
GOVERNMENT, published on Sunday the 15th of July 2007,
LID BLOWN ON GHOST COMPANY THAT
DID THE MIG DEAL, published on the 25th of July 2007,
CONTROVERSIAL MIG 27 PROCUREMENT
WHO PROFITED FROM THE MIG DEAL, published on Sunday the 5th of August 2007,
MIG DEAL CRASH LANDS ON DEFENSE
MINISTRY, published on Sunday the 2nd September 2007.
By the said articles the Sunday
Leader Newspaper had raised doubts about the manner in which the purchases
relating to MIG 27 aircrafts and overhauling of the existing fleet of MIG 27
aircrafts of Sri Lanka Air Force had been carried out.
The then Secretary to the Ministry of
Defense had instituted an action bearing number 6036/M in the District Court of
Mount Lavinia claiming inter-alia that the said publications carried out by the
Sunday Leader Newspaper had defamed his character and reputation and thereby
sought damages.
During the trial which took place at
the District Court of Mount Lavinia Mr. Jayanath Kumarasiri representing Sri
Lanka Air Force, Mr. S. Hendawithana a pilot who took part in the operations
and in the purchasing of MIG 27 aircrafts and Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakshe himself
testified producing all relevant documents regarding the purchase of the said
aircrafts and overhauling the existing fleet of aircrafts and records of the operation
of the said aircrafts.
Having carefully perused through the
oral and documentary evidence the Sunday Leader Newspaper is now of the opinion
that the said purchase had taken place according to the existing rules and
regulations and throughout such transaction the transparency expected of a
military purchase had been strictly maintained.
We accept that the purchase of the
MIG 27 and overhauling of MIG 27 aircrafts referred to in said articles were to
the benefit of Sri Lanka Air Force and such aircrafts purchased and overhauled
had a pivotal role in the historic operations against the LTTE.
Therefore, we hereby unequivocally
apologise to Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakshe, the then Secretary to the Ministry of
Defense for any pain of mind and/or loss of reputation and/or defamation of
character which had caused to him as a result of such publications.
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