Four years RI for MP Ramanayake for contempt of Supreme Court

MP Ramanayake reacts as he boards the Prisons Department bus after the SC found him guilty. He was taken to Pallansena Covid-19 quarantine centre as a preliminary step before serving his four-year rigorous imprisonment.(Pic by Saman Ranaweera)

By Chitra Weerarathne

The Supreme Court yesterday found Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) Gampaha District MP Ranjan Ramanayake guilty of contempt of Court under Article 105/3 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and sentenced him to four years RI.

 The SC ruled that the MP while being a member of the UNP yahapalana administration caused an affront to the dignity of the judiciary and the legal profession by making a statement, made outside Temple Trees, on August 21, 2017.

The SC made reference to a statement Ramanayake made to ‘Hiru TV’, alleging that 90% of the judges in Sri Lanka were corrupt.

The Supreme Court directed the Registrar to issue a warrant on Ranjan Ramanayake.

The bench comprised Justice Sisira De Abrew, Justice Vijith Malalgoda and Justice Preethi Padman Soorasena.

The decision made under Article 105/3 of the Constitution was unanimous.

 M.A. Sumanthiran President’s Counsel, appeared with Viran Corea, PC for Ramanayake.

Senior Additional Solicitor General Sarath Jayamanne, President’s Counsel appeared for the Attorney General.

The petitioner was Sunil Perera.

 During the trial ‘The Hiru’ TV video was played in open Court.

During the trial, Ramanayake said outside the Court that he would not withdraw his statement at issue.

The Attorney General called as witnesses Dayan Sampath and Lakmal Sooriyagoda both journalists.

They certified the statements made by Ramanayake.

The charge sheet was served on Ramanayake on December 12, 2018, pertaining to the statement made on August 21, 2017.