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Ranjan Ramanayake sentenced to 4 years imprisonment with hard labour
Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake was convicted of contempt of court by judges and sentenced to four years in prison by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court announced the verdict after a lengthy trial over allegations that MP Ranjan Ramanayake had insulted the judiciary and lawyers by making a statement to the media. Speaking to the press after a discussion with then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees on August 21, 2018, former Minister Ranjan Ramanayake had declared that the majority of judges and lawyers in the country were corrupt. The Rev. Magalkande Sudantha Thera and retired Air Force officer Sunil Perera had filed a complaint in the Supreme Court alleging that the former minister had insulted the judiciary by undermining public confidence country's judiciary.
Based on those complaints, the Attorney General filed the charge sheet against former Minister of State Ranjan Ramanayake in the Supreme Court. Defendant Ranjan Ramanayake has spoken to the media four times in the Supreme Court premises after filing a contempt of court charges and stressed that he would not withdraw the contemptuous statement underlying the case said in July.
The Additional Solicitor General further stated that he had stated in the statement, "I will not withdraw my statement, but I will not withdraw my statement even if I am imprisoned for life." Also, I pointed out. The Supreme Court, which concluded the case on August 25, adjourned the case until today, after which he was found guilty today.
Although Ranjan can file an appeal in this regard, it is doubtful whether he will file an appeal. As Ranjan will have to stay in jail after today's verdict, there is a possibility that Ranjan's seat will be cancelled if he does not attend the parliamentary sessions for three months. This happened to Sarath Fonseka in 2010. However, Mr Premalal Jayasekara, who was sentenced to death by the court, is still in Parliament.