Sajith again urges President to pardon Ranjan

By Akitha Perera 

Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa again yesterday to pardon former MP Ranjan Ramanayake.

Speaking to journalists after a visit to the Welikada Prison to see Ramanayake, Opposition leader Premadasa said: “Ranjan Ramanayake was not imprisoned for murder or theft. He spoke on behalf of the people. I spoke to the President to pardon him on several occasions. Therefore, in the name of humanity, we seek a pardon for Ranjan Ramanayake.”

The Inter Parliamentary Union, too, had promised that it would stand for the rights of Ramanayake, the Opposition Leader said. “Many of those responsible for gas scams, sugar scams, coconut oil scams and fertiliser scams are at large. In the meantime, Ramanayake is behind bars for speaking the truth,” Premadasa said.