Threatening businessman: Minister Ranatunga appeals against HC ruling

Counsel for Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Attorney-at-law Mary Dickman, has appealed against two years rigorous imprisonment suspended for five years imposed on the Minister for threatening businessman G. Mendis.

Dickman requested the Court Registrar to forward the relevant file to the Court of Appeal.

The charges were in respect of evicting squatters from a marshy land at Meethotamulla, in 2015.

Of the 15 charges, the Court acquitted the Minister of 14 charges but found him guilty on the 13th charge. The Minister’s wife Maureen, and Naresh Kumar Fareek, were acquitted of all charges.

Having appealed to the Court of Appeal to dismiss the ruling and if unable to do so to relax the punishment.

The Colombo High Court also imposed a fine of Rs 25 mn on the Minister. The lawmaker was also ordered to pay Rs 1 mn to the businessman as compensation. In case, the Minister failed to pay Rs 25 mn,, he would face nine more months in jail. The Court ruled that the Minister would have to serve an additional 03 months in case he failed to pay the Rs 1 mn compensation (SF)