Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has moved to issue letters of demand seeking Rs. 1 billion in compensation each from former Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa and the Swarnavahini, over what he describes as defamatory and false statements made against him.

In a statement released yesterday, the Minister’s side said legal notice had been sent calling for compensation in connection with the publication and broadcast of allegations that were said to be baseless and damaging to his reputation.

According to the statement, on or around 6 February 2026, Weerawansa allegedly made a public claim at a media briefing attended by electronic, print, and online media that Minister Jayatissa had used the credit card of the owner of an unregistered pharmaceutical company to purchase goods worth approximately Rs. 1 million in India. The Minister’s office maintains that the allegation was presented in a manner intended to mislead the public.

The statement further notes that the allegation was subsequently broadcast by Swarnavahini as a special segment titled “Story of the Day” during its 6.50 p.m. news bulletin on 7 February 2026.

Minister Jayatissa has categorically rejected the allegation, describing it as entirely false and without any factual basis, and claims it was made with malicious intent to undermine his personal integrity and public trust in his capacity as Health and Media Minister.

It is also alleged that Swarnavahini aired the statement without seeking clarification from the Minister or offering him an opportunity to respond, and that the content has since been uploaded and circulated on online and social media platforms.

As a result, the Minister, through his legal counsel, has demanded Rs. 1 billion each from Weerawansa and the entities Ben Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and EAP Broadcasting Company Limited, citing reputational damage caused by the allegedly defamatory publication.

The notice warns that failure to comply will result in further legal action being instituted.