The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued a conditional order preventing eight respondents’ including the private secretary of the former Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake from the distribution of personal photographs, videotapes or audiotapes related to Ratnayake.
Ratnayake had submitted a complaint to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court through his lawyer under Section 24 of the Online Safety Act No. 09 of 2024.
When this petition was brought before the court, Kalinga Indatissa PC presented the facts on behalf of the petitioner and stated that according to this new Act, a Commission should be appointed but it has not been done so far, and as a result this petition is being presented to the Court.
The President’s Counsel further submitted that although his client intends to be a candidate at a future Presidential election, irrespective of this fact this kind of incident can happen to anyone.
“All my client’s internet passwords were given to her. She was his personal secretary for 18 years. There was a close relationship. That was around 2006. It came to an end around May 2023. Now she is staying in Taiwan and she has got married. Professor Muditha Vidanapathirana, a close friend of the petitioner, had told him that the first and second respondents had said that they were releasing photos or videos she has on social media. After that we came to know that such a video has been shared. A copy of that video is attached herewith. That is why we are requesting to stop these efforts” he added..
The President’s Counsel requested Court to issue a conditional injunction to prevent the disclosure of Ratnayake’s personal information by the first and second respondents.
(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
