Tamara Kunanayakam demands compensation from Samaraweera and EAP Broadcasting Corporation

By Chamitha Kuruppu

Sri Lanka’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Tamara Kunanayakam has sent two Letters of Demand to Minister Mangala Samaraweera and EAP Broadcasting Corporation to pay Rs. 500 million as compensation.

The former Ambassador has demanded Minister Samaraweera and EAP Broadcasting Corporation pay Rs. 500 million each within 10 days as compensation for grave irreparable damage caused to her reputation.

In March 2015, Minister Samaraweera has made a statement on the television program ‘Rathu Ira’on Swarnavahini claiming ‘Kunanayakam is a supporter of LTTE’.  

Speaking to the Daily FT, Kunanayakam said that by making false statements about her maliciously and with the intention to de fame and ridicule her, and also to cause grave pain of mind.  

“The said statements and/or comments and/or remarks made against my client in said program and/or broadcast per se and in innuendo defamatory of my client and the general public have understood as defamatory to my client. Further by the publication of the false and malicious utterances by you as aforesaid, you have caused a grave pain of mind to my client who, is held in high esteem both locally and internationally and has defamed her locally and also international” said the letter sent by Kunanayakan through her Attorney-at-Law Arunodinie Sendupperuma.

The letter further said: “In the circumstances, you are hereby demanded to pay the said sum of rupees five hundred million within ten days. Should you fail to comply with the demand made hereby, I am further instructed by my client to institute legal proceedings against you to recover same with interests, costs of suit without any further notice to you.”

However, when asked whether this move was politically motivated, Kunanayaka noted: “Samaraweera made this statement on March 17. I consulted my lawyers immediately. But I was in Geneva till April. I came back a month ago. Since then I have been working with my lawyers. They will always say my move is politically motivated but my problem is not that. My problem is that there is a case of defamation. And I have taken action. I am not going to be diverted into another debate.”  

Kunanayakan also said when she was in Geneva she received an anonymous letter threatening her. “I got this letter when I was Sri Lanka’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative from what seems obviously pro-LTTE or separatist elements. The letter was sent from Canada. In page 2 especially accusations of ‘treachery’ and threat that my every movement is being watched and their ability “to make use of every means in the world” to make their presence felt and “bring shock to those who commit treason and crimes against humanity.”

“It is after receiving such threats and confirmation from Swiss police that the Residence was being watched by unknown persons, and information from certain diplomatic officials in the Mission and Sri Lankans outside that the residence had been renovated by an organisation suspected of involvement in extortion of funds by LTTE that I called for an independent audit.

“Sri Lankans think I got everything from Mahinda Rajapaksa. That is totally untrue. In Parliament it was said I was provided all comforts by Mahinda Rajapaksa. Very few people know my background. I am an internationally reputed person. I have served as an international civil servant for a long period of time. I have worked with the United Nations organisation and its agencies for over 15 years,” she stressed.