RANJAN TO LEGALLY LOSE MP SEAT IN 06 MONTHS

Speaking to News 1st the NEC Chairman said if a person is convicted and sentenced to more than 02 years in prison and remains in prison for more than 06 months, it would pave the way for one to lose the seat in parliament.

Thereafter, the candidate with the next highest number of votes from the respective political party will be named to the parliamentary seat which will be left vacant.

Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake was sentenced to 04 years Rigorous Imprisonment on Tuesday (12) by the Supreme Court for committing contempt of court and he was moved to Correctional Center for Youthful Offenders in Pallansena for quarantine.

The case was called up in the presence of Supreme Court Justices Sisira De Abrew, Vijith Malalgoda, and P. Padman Surasena on Tuesday (12).

Chair of the Supreme Court bench Justice Sisira De Abrew delivering the verdict, finding the parliamentarian guilty, said the prosecution had proven beyond any reasonable doubt, Ranjan Ramanayake had committed contempt of court in his comments to the media on judges and lawyers, on the 21st of August 2017 close to Temple Trees in Colombo.

Justice De Abrew further said the MP had purposely made the comments and it was proven from the comments he made after leaving court proceedings on multiple occasions.

The Attorney General filed charges against Ranjan Ramanayake pursuant to a complaint by Retired Army Officer Sunil Perera, alleging the statement made by Ranjan Ramanayake opposite Temple Trees on the 21st of August 2017 was in contempt of court.

 ‘I will not withdraw any comment’, said MP Ranjan Ramanayake on Tuesday (12) in his parting words after the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka sentenced the lawmaker to 04 years of rigorous imprisonment.

‘I will not apologize for anything and I have not stolen a red cent,” he said while being escorted by the prison officers outside the Supreme Court Premises.

Ramanayake said he is not afraid of speaking the truth and is not afraid to die.