Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National Organiser Tissa Attanayake on Tuesday (3) sought additional time to respond to a defamation lawsuit filed by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

Amarasuriya is seeking Rs. 100 million in damages from Attanayake and Asia Broadcasting Corporation (Pvt) Ltd., alleging they made and published defamatory statements during the 2024 presidential election campaign.

The case was taken up before Colombo Additional District Judge Mahesha De Silva. Attorneys representing Attanayake requested more time to respond, and the court directed the defendants to file their answers by 28 October.

The prime minister alleges that during an SJB campaign rally in Mawanella on 19 August 2024, Attanayake claimed that a future government led by the National People’s Power (NPP) would halt the Sri Dalada Perahera (Kandy Esala Perahera). He also alleged that Amarasuriya had said the procession could continue only if elephants were no longer used, citing animal cruelty concerns.

However, independent local fact-checkers have determined that these claims are misleading. They reported finding no evidence to support the assertion that Amarasuriya made such a statement.