Jailing of former MP Ranjan Ramanayake Harin wears a black ‘Satakaya’ in Parliament

• MP Fernando also referred to Hitler and Charley Chaplin in his speech and said both of them wore mustaches

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

SJB MP Harin Fernando yesterday announced that he will wear a black Shawl (Sataka) against the jailing of former MP Ranjan Ramanayake who was convicted for Contempt of Court.    

“I will be wearing a black satakaya to protest against the jailing of MP Ramanayake ,” he said while putting the sataka on in Parliament yesterday.   
“Mr. Ramanayake was sent to jail as he made bombshell speeches in Parliament and the Government wanted to silence the MP ,” Mr. Fernando said.   “Pruthugeesin (Portuguese) ruled this country in 1657, the Landesin (Dutch) ruled this nation 1658 to 1796, Ingreesin (British) ruled this nation from 1815 to 1948. Sri Lanka is ruled by Vendesis (auctioneers) today,” he said.   
Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardene who raised a point of order at that time said an MP has to call for a motion if he wants to talk of the conduct of either the President, Prime Minister or a fellow MP or about a Judicial officer.   

Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said Mr. Ramanayake was not sent to jail by the Government or by the President. “Neither the Government nor the President or the Prime Minister had any objective of sending Mr. Ramanayake to jail. He was sent to jail as he talked of the conducts of Judicial Officers and even inflicted undue influence on them and even on the Director General of Bribery Commission. “There are people in this House who can be sent to jail if we want but we will not influence the judiciary,” he said.  

MP Harin Fernando also referred to Hitler and Charley Chaplin in his speech and said both of them wore mustaches. However, he could not say what he wanted to say as a result of heckling by government MPs during that time.  

• Neither the Government nor the President or the Prime Minister had any objective of sending Mr. Ramanayake to jail