Former Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe has withdrawn the Rs. 800 million defamation case filed against Nirmala de Alwis, widow of lyricist and journalist Premakeerthi de Alwis, following her recent death. The case stemmed from alleged statements made by her implying Samarasinghe’s involvement in her husband’s murder.
The case, filed before the Colombo District Court, was withdrawn by the petitioner following a submission by President’s Counsel Madhawa Rupasinghe. He told the court that the respondent had passed away several days prior and requested permission to withdraw the case. The Chief District Judge granted permission for the withdrawal and ordered the case to be concluded. Counsel Thavodya Gamage, representing the respondent told the court that there was no objection to the withdrawal request.
The case stemmed from an incident on July 31, 2014, at the 25th commemorative event for Premakeerthi de Alwis, at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation premises.
During the event, the respondent addressing the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said, “Mr President, the killer of Premakeerthi de Alwis is in your lap.” The petitioner said a news report published on August 3, 2014 in a Sinhala language weekly newspaper said, “Nirmala accuses Hudson Samarasinghe of murdering her husband.”
In his petition, Samarasinghe said that the statement and subsequent news report had severely damaged his reputation as a former Member of Parliament and Chairman of the SLBC.
He alleged that Nirmala’s statement caused him to file a case against her through his attorney, Sanjaya Fonseka, on October 23, 2014. At a previous hearing earlier this year, President’s Counsel Kuvera de Soyza, representing the petitioner, led Samarasinghe’s primary evidence before the court. Senior Counsel Lakshan Dias, representing the respondent told the court that he had to attend another special case, and requested another day to cross-examine the petitioner’s evidence. The court had scheduled the cross-examination for July 25, 2025.
Nirmala de Alwis, a respected broadcaster, writer, and lyricist, passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 70 while receiving treatment at a hospital in Kandy.
