JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — March 28, 2026 —
Ramanathan Archchuna, a Member of Parliament for the Jaffna Electoral District, is facing a defamation case filed by Dr. A. Ketheeswaran, Jaffna’s Regional Director of Health Services, who testified in court on Friday that allegations made against him by the lawmaker were false, damaging, and deeply personal.
Appearing before the Point Pedro Magistrate’s Court, Dr. Ketheeswaran delivered nearly two hours of testimony, firmly rejecting claims made by Archchuna in a video published in July 2024 that accused him of facilitating the distribution of prescription painkillers as narcotics to schoolchildren through pharmacies.
Archchuna — a medical doctor and former acting medical superintendent of the Chavakachcheri Base Hospital — has previously acknowledged publishing the video and making the allegations. He has told the court he will seek to prove the claims are true.
During Friday’s proceedings, the video in question was played in court in the presence of the accused.
Dr. Ketheeswaran presented documentary evidence outlining regulatory actions taken between 2022 and 2024 to curb the improper dispensing of prescription medication. These, he said, included enforcement measures against pharmacies and oversight of both public and private healthcare institutions.
In his testimony, Dr. Ketheeswaran said the allegations had caused serious harm to his professional standing, describing them as unprecedented in his 35-year medical career. He also told the court that he and his family had received threats following the release of the video, including from individuals overseas.
The case has drawn significant attention across the Northern Province, where Archchuna remains a polarizing figure. Critics accuse him of using public platforms to pursue personal or political grievances, while supporters argue that he has raised concerns others in public life have been reluctant to confront.
The case is set to continue at the next hearing, where Archchuna’s legal team is expected to begin cross-examining Dr. Ketheeswaran.
