Supreme Court Upholds Rs. 1 Million Compensation Order Against Wimal Weerawansa for Copyright Violation

COLOMBO — On July 9, 2026, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka upheld a prior ruling by the Colombo Commercial High Court that found former Minister Wimal Weerawansa liable for violating intellectual property rights. The case centered on the publication of the book titled “Naththa Wenuwata Eththa,” which was released under Weerawansa’s name but contained materials claimed by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva.

The Supreme Court confirmed the order directing Weerawansa to pay Rs. 1 million in damages to Silva. Additionally, the court issued an injunction preventing Weerawansa from printing, distributing, selling, or engaging in any activities that would infringe upon the intellectual property rights related to documents associated with the JVP included in the publication.

The dispute originated when Silva filed a lawsuit before the Colombo Commercial High Court, alleging that the book contained ideas, proposals, and documents he had presented to the JVP executive committee during his tenure with the party. Silva argued that the unauthorized inclusion of these materials in the book constituted a violation of his intellectual property rights.

After extensive proceedings, the Commercial High Court delivered its judgment on January 11, 2019. The court ruled that under the Intellectual Property Act, the rightful ownership of the material contained in “Naththa Wenuwata Eththa” belonged to Silva, not Weerawansa. The court ordered Weerawansa to compensate Silva with Rs. 1 million and granted related relief concerning the disputed content.

Weerawansa subsequently appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the Commercial High Court’s ruling. However, the Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Sobitha Rajakaruna, affirmed the earlier decision in its entirety.

This ruling reinforces the protection of intellectual property rights within Sri Lanka’s political and publishing spheres, underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to uphold legal ownership of creative and proprietary materials.

The case highlights the legal risks associated with unauthorized use of party documents and intellectual property, particularly in politically sensitive contexts. It also serves as a precedent for future disputes involving copyright and intellectual property rights in Sri Lanka.

The Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant development in the enforcement of intellectual property laws, emphasizing accountability and respect for original authorship in published works.