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Contempt of Supreme Court Case: ASG piles on arguments to convict Ranjan Ramanayake
By Chitra Weerarathne
Accused, Ranjan Ramanayake, though a politician, did not have special power to criticise the Supreme Court and contempt of court laws applied equally to all citizens, Additional Solicitor General Sarath Jayamanne, President’s Counsel yesterday told the Supreme Court.
The Additional Solicitor General said the Supreme Court was vested with very wide jurisdiction as the highest Court in the land to punish persons found guilty of contempt of court.
Sarath Jayamanne PC, appeared for the Attorney General, in the contempt of court application against Ranjan Ramanayake, accused of tarnishing the image of judges and lawyers, at a press conference, held in Colombo. Ramanayake is a Janabalavegaya Parliamentarian for the Gampaha District.
Article 105 (3) empowers, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal to punish persons for contempt of court, the ASG explained.
The ASG said that the Attorney General has been invited by the Court to appear an Amicus curiae to assist the court.
The accused was permitted to summon witnesses of his choice.
The accused Ramanayake in his impugned utterances said that most of the judges were corrupt. They included the judges of the Supreme Court. What he had said amounted to contempt of the Supreme Court. If it was allowed, tomorrow films would be made to bring the Supreme Court into disrepute. That would be scandalous. It would mark the end of the judicial system.
Members of Parliament or public representatives should not be allowed to discredit the judges, the Additional Solicitor General said.
Politicians and other citizens were subject to same contempt of court laws.
ASG Jayamanne argued that the prosecution does not have to prove the intention of the accused in a contempt of court case. The Article 105/3 of the constitution had recognised Supreme law. The contempt of court had always been treated as an offence. The penalty could be imprisonment and or a fine.
In the Criminal Procedure Code, offence was an act or ommission, punishable by law, Jayamanne said.
Ramanayake too had taken contradictory positions. Once he said he meant the judges. Then again in his evidence he said he did not mean the judges. The contradictory evidence confirms the accusation.
For insulting the court there was no defence, Sarath Jayamanne PC stressed.
A judgement could be examined in a professional way. But insulting the court was an offence, he said.
The bench comprised Justice Sisira de Abrew, Justice Vijith K. Malalagoda and Justice Preethi Padman Soorasena.
The case will be mentioned again on October 21.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
