Former Defence Secretary Goyabaya Rajapaksa and The Sunday Leader newspaper agreed to settle the case over a newspaper article concerning the purchase of four MiG-27 aircrafts.

The case which began in 2008 was taken up again at the Mount-Lavinia Magistrate Courts today. The former Defence Secretary's side indicated that he does not wish to pursue with the case.

Attorney-at-Law Athula Ranagala representing Leader Publications told 'Asian Mirror' that the former Defence Minister's side requested the newspaper to publish a note, regreting the publication of the article.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa had demanded Rs 100 million from the Leader Publications as damage to his reputation.