Popular actor Hemal Ranasinghe was released by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court today (10) following a settlement reached over the alleged assault of film critic Lakmina Ranasinghe.
Mount Lavinia Magistrate Kanchana Neranjala Silva ordered Ranasinghe’s release after a Mediation Board report containing four conditions was submitted to court.
Under the first condition, Hemal Ranasinghe admitted wrongdoing over the assault and apologised to film critic Lakmina Ranasinghe. The second condition stated that Lakmina Ranasinghe had accepted the apology and forgiven him.
The third condition required Hemal Ranasinghe to refrain from insulting or defaming the aggrieved party through the media or social media.
Under the fourth condition, the actor agreed to pay Rs. 500,000 in compensation to Lakmina Ranasinghe.
However, a team of lawyers led by Senior Counsel Ajith Pathirana, appearing for Lakmina Ranasinghe, informed court that despite the third condition of the settlement, derogatory remarks targeting their client were continuing to circulate on social media.
The Senior Counsel also informed court that the Rs. 500,000 compensation paid by Hemal Ranasinghe would, at Lakmina Ranasinghe’s request, be donated to the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama.
The Magistrate cautioned the actor to ensure that the aggrieved party was not subjected to further insults or harassment.
She also observed that assaults should be confined to cinema and drama and that the law did not permit such conduct in real life.
Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered Hemal Ranasinghe’s release in terms of the Mediation Board report.
The case stemmed from an incident at the Havelock City cinema on 8 January, where Hemal Ranasinghe was accused of assaulting film critic Lakmina Ranasinghe and allegedly making a death threat amounting to criminal intimidation.
When the case was previously taken up on 14 May, the Magistrate referred both parties to the Mediation Board and ordered that a report be submitted to court.
