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Sajith claims Ranjan’s self-proclaimed saviours have deserted him

17 Jun 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera Claiming that even the group that boasted about working towards the release of former Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who is currently serving a four year term of rigorous imprisonment upon conviction over contempt of court, have forgotten him today, Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa said that they would have to wait patiently for Ramanayake’s release under the prescribed procedure. Speaking to the media after visiting Ramanayake at the Colombo Magazine Prison yesterday (16), he said: “For a long time, we have been deceived with promises that Ramanayake will be released today, tomorrow, in view of Christmas, Independence Day, New Year, and so on. However, we believe that we will have to wait until he is released under the prescribed procedure, because none of the promises made about his release have been put into action today. The group that boasted about working to secure his release has also forgotten him.”  He added that the SJB was not only looking forward to Ramanayake’s release, but would also work hand in hand with him to build a country where there is a clean Government, free of corruption, fraud, and theft. “We say very clearly that Ramanayake is a humanitarian, a great people’s leader who cares deeply about the people and serves them. He told me to send a message to the country and that is that he is currently pursuing a degree in higher education. He wanted me to convey the message to the people that he hopes to join hands with us and deliver a useful service to the country by using the knowledge he would acquire by passing that degree.”  The Supreme Court, in January 2021, sentenced Ramanayake to four years of rigorous imprisonment over contempt of court. The case was filed by Ven. Magalkande Sudaththa Thera and Air Force Officer (Retd.) R. Sunil Perera in 2017, following remarks made by Ramanayake allegedly insulting the reputation of the Judiciary when commenting to the media in 2017. The case was heard before a three-Judge bench composed of Justices Sisira de Abrew (since retired), Vijith Kumara Malalgoda PC, and Preethi Padman Surasena. Since then, a number of parties including the SJB and Ramanayake’s fellow film industry colleagues have been pressuring the President and the Government to release him. As a step towards his release, then-SJB MPs Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara also addressed a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.  However, they recently took over two Cabinet Ministerial portfolios in the Government formed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. In a letter to the Premier before taking over the Ministries, they had stated that they would extend their support to the Government on the programme which would be implemented by Wickremesinghe on a number of issues, including the release of Ramanayake.


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