K. P. Fernando, J. (CA)

The Petitioner filed the present application by way of a petition dated 16th October 2023 invoking the jurisdiction of this Court under Article 105(3) of the Constitution, seeking to charge the Respondent with the offence of contempt of Court.

The factual background to this application relates to a pending civil action in the District Court of Kuliyapitiya (Case No. 1147/L), wherein the Petitioner has sought a declaration of title to a land identified as “Atambahamulla bim vasiya,” and other reliefs, against Gamma International (Pvt) Ltd. and its directors, including the Respondent.

It is the Petitioner’s position that during the pendency of that action, the Respondent participated in a televised interview aired on 20th September 2023 in a programme titled “Truth with Chamuditha,” wherein she made a series of statements that were false, malicious, and prejudicial to the due administration of justice.

In the said petition, the Petitioner pleads that the Respondent made grave allegations including that the Petitioner had colluded with an acting judge and multiple lawyers to execute forged deeds, that a government minister engaged in illicit activities was orchestr