Wimal, Ranjan engage in heated parliamentary debate

COLOMBO (News1st): Minister Wimal Weerawansa accused opposition lawmaker Ranjan Ramanayake of interfering with the judiciary, during a heated debate in Parliament on Thursday. Weerawansa, who engaged in a heated exchange of words, cited leaked telephone conversations of Ramanayake with judges, that sparked controversy in the recent past. "The judge asked for a promotion and he promised to get that done by meeting the President," the minister said referring to the court verdict on former MP Duminda Silva who is on a death row. He said that Silva had been shot first, following which his security officer fired gunshots at Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra who died afterwards. "...the security officer was acquitted while Duminda Silva who first suffered injuries was sentenced to death based on the special request of Ranjan Ramanayake," Weerawansa noted. Ramanayake, in response to the claims, said the government obstructed him from releasing recordings of telephone conversations since it contains shady dealings. "If no one is afraid, let us reveal those conversations," the opposition parliamentarian challenged. He pointed out that the wives of several politicians had contacted him asking for favours, maybe because he was a genuine politician.