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Prasanna sentenced by HC, no impact on MP seat

07 Jun 2022

  • Colombo HC imposes two years’ rigorous imprisonment suspended for 5 years
  • Lawyer argues for lesser sentence to maintain stable Cabinet
  • Speaker says no impediment to serving as MP, as sentence suspended
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Colombo High Court (HC) Judge Manjula Thilakarathne yesterday (6) sentenced Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga to two years of rigorous imprisonment (RI), suspended for five years, over his attempt to extort Rs. 64 million from a businessman in 2015, while Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that the said ruling would not be an impediment to Ranatunga serving as an MP and Chief Government Whip. Ranatunga was imposed a fine of Rs. 25 million, and the judge announced that Ranatunga would be sentenced to another nine months of imprisonment upon failure to pay the said sum. In addition, the court further ordered him to pay compensation of Rs. 1 million to the businessman in question, and declared that if he failed to pay the said compensation, he would be sentenced to another three months of imprisonment. Announcing the verdict, the judge said that out of the charges filed by the Attorney General (AG) against Ranatunga in the case, which was being heard in court for four years, the accused was found guilty of “getting promissory notes signed through intimidation” and that the accused would be acquitted of all other charges. The Judge also ordered the acquittal of Ranatunga’s wife Maureen Ranatunga and Naresh Fareeq, the second and third accused in the case, respectively. Observing that the accused had misused his power as the Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council, the judge stated that someone holding a high position like a Chief Minister is never expected to use obscene language to threaten someone. Therefore, Judge Thilakarathne, announcing the verdict, said that the dock statement made by the first accused was false. Following the verdict, Anil Silva PC appeared for the accused and appealed in court to commute the sentence.  “My client (Ranatunga) underwent a surgery on 20 March 2022. Also, his house in Udugampola was completely destroyed during the recent incidents. As a result, his daughter’s wedding was also delayed, and she is also suffering from depression at the moment. Currently, a certain court order has resulted in the reduction of the number of tourists visiting the country and created a wrong image of the country in the eyes of the world. My client is a Cabinet Minister. The world would believe that Sri Lanka cannot maintain a stable Cabinet if he was to be severely punished. On behalf of the country, I request a lesser sentence for the charges against him,” Silva PC told the court. Senior Deputy Solicitor General (SDSG) Dileepa Peiris appeared before the court on behalf of the AG’s Department.  “This is a case that has been pending in the court for four years. In the first instance of this case, there was no admission of guilt and this is a verdict which is to be given after conducting the case for four years with the tax money of the people. Furthermore, the rulers of the country should be guided by your (the High Court Judge’s) verdict so that ordinary people won’t be intimidated by using official power and positions, because the people voted and appointed him to the Western Provincial Council, not to make business deals. If there are other people like that, this is a case which may open their eyes,” he said.  SDSG Peiris further told the court: “This is a case of the accused threatening a businessman named Gihan Mendis, demanding Rs. 64 million to get the necessary approval to fill a swamp in the Meethotamulla area and to evict the illegal occupants there, while serving as the Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council. That is Rs. 64 million. What is the point of having such a lot of money? People vote for them and send them to the Provincial Council. These cheques are being signed at their official residence. Is it for these that the people in the Western Province have appointed a Chief Minister? To go and intimidate the people with pistols? The accused’s attorney is saying that the sentencing would be prejudicial to the country, but this is the harvest of what he (accused) has sown. Therefore, I request the court to give him an appropriate punishment which will create a fear of the law and send a strong message to the society.”  Accordingly, the Judge considered all the facts and imposed the sentence. The case is to be taken up again on 20 June for fines and compensation. Meanwhile, when questioned as to whether the ruling would prevent Ranatunga from serving as a MP and as the Chief Government Whip, Speaker Abeywardena told The Morning yesterday that there was no such impediment as his imprisonment had been suspended. He further said that Ranatunga would not face such an impediment even if the ruling is not appealed by the MP. A case was filed in the Colombo High Court by the then-AG during the previous United National Front (UNF)-led Government against then-Chief Minister of the Western Province Ranatunga, his wife Maureen Ranatunga, and Naresh Fareeq over their attempt to extort Rs. 64 million from the businessman in question. Fareeq, who has been named as the third accused in the case, has now fled the country, and the court earlier decided to continue the trial without his presence.


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