Ranjan wants new President to restore his civic rights

1 October 2024 09:54 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 21 Bookmark

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Colombo , Octomber 1 (Daily Mirror) - Actor-turned-politician Ranjan Ramanayake who was given a conditional pardon by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe for contempt of court in 2022 yesterday said he would make a fresh appeal to incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to grant him full pardon and to restore his civic rights.

“I will make an appeal to incumbent President Dissanayake shortly, seeking the restoration of my civic rights. The former President pardoned me. Yet my mouth is gagged, preventing me from engaging in active politics. I will be making a fresh appeal to the new President for my civic rights. I feel I will get it as I was not sent to prison for any crime,” he told Daily Mirror.

Submitting an affidavit to the court on August 25, 2022, on the statement made by him outside the Temple Trees in August 2017, Ramanayake admitted that his comment was utterly contemptuous of the Chief Justice and the entire judiciary. In his affidavit, Ramanayake profoundly apologized and sought the forgiveness of the entire judiciary. Further, he sought forgiveness for the derogatory statement he made outside the Supreme Court premises claiming that he would not withdraw the statement he made on August 21, 2017. He also gave an assurance that he would never again, in his entire lifetime, make any statement critical or derogatory of the entire judiciary. He was found guilty of contempt of court in January 2021.

Article 34(1) of the Sri Lankan Constitution empowers the President to pardon an offender convicted of any offence in any Sri Lankan court. When an offender has been sentenced to death, the Constitutional process is as follows: (1) the President shall require the judge who tried the case to make a report; (2) it shall be forwarded to the Attorney-General for his advice; (3) thereafter, the report shall be sent to the Minister of Justice to forward to the President with his recommendation.

Comments - 21

Dayan Tuesday, 01 October 2024 10:07 AM

File a case and fight it out. Sue them. Mr. Prez, don’t waste time in it to any one. It will be a favor later on.

1 27

Lion Tuesday, 01 October 2024 10:11 AM

Please give him time. One advice is please don’t get in to politics and your behavior put lot of honest government servants in to severe difficulties and some lost jobs.

4 24

Voter Tuesday, 01 October 2024 10:18 AM

You people really need to stop this pressuring the President for personal political favours. This is exactly what we are all trying to stop! If you have any grievances, there are mechanisms in place to appeal the sentence or conditions through the normal channels (i.e. courts).

3 41

Lion Tuesday, 01 October 2024 10:22 AM

Your stupidity made honest People like Shani Abeysekara to land in prison. NPP should not allow him to contest through their party

8 35

Jab Tuesday, 01 October 2024 11:22 AM

Is it Ranjan or corrupt Gota regime responsible? Why take decisions based on a comedian's utterance?

4 6

Spot Fines Tuesday, 01 October 2024 11:44 AM

When Popularity is larger than Stupidity contesting can be a good idea in a land where analytical skills of a vast majority are very low.

0 1

Vipin B Tuesday, 01 October 2024 10:54 AM

Less we here from this crap artist the better. Do whatever you can Mr President to keep these type of socital cancers out of the reach of children and civilized societies.

1 8

mohandev Tuesday, 01 October 2024 11:04 AM

Contempt of court rulings should never be given any pardons unless by same court. If so, erosion of justice will continue in our banana republic with a constitution fit only for dictatorship

0 7

Jeanne Tuesday, 01 October 2024 11:12 AM

Actors should remain actors and never enter into politics - even though the similarities are huge - nothing is real.

2 3

L Jaya Tuesday, 01 October 2024 12:14 PM

A fair and reasonable request. Contempt of court charges in other jurisdictions, especially in INDIA were not harsh as SL. This need further revision and assessment. Need to keep in mind that No judges are infallible.

2 4

Thailand is especially draconian, US model of freedom for public to comment about judges Tuesday, 01 October 2024 02:41 PM

Common pattern in third world countries. Thailand saying anything but lavish praise of their monarch can get long prison sentence. In developed country Judges decisions can be thoroughly questions, and judges cancelled by voter led recall process. US of of the countries with good freedom of political speech has freedom criticize any of their judges.

3 0

Truth seeker Tuesday, 01 October 2024 12:29 PM

I feel sorry for D G Dilrukshi Bandaranaike the former commissioner of bribery department. She paid heigh price and even got her character tarnish to a greater extent by the action of this man.

1 8

Mithula Tuesday, 01 October 2024 01:54 PM

Actors should be Actors only they should not be politicians. Because when they get power and position they will become actors in parliament and will mislead the poor people.

1 5

Any one can try to be President or an MP, even Namal R is trying Tuesday, 01 October 2024 02:35 PM

Utterly contemptuous to say, persons in profession of actor cannot change career. The children of politicians and relatives are those who should be most prevented from coming into power, as like for Namal R, their aim is to continue the corrupt activities of their older relatives, and protect their wrong doing.

0 7

K.M.J. Fernando - (Attorney-at-Law) Tuesday, 01 October 2024 02:03 PM

Yes, Rajan do it soon, you are the most needed thump card to our New President. Having you in his tent, he will capture all Rajapakshe family and put them behind bars. You make the request and our President will do the needful lawfully.

5 2

Lt. Col. M.D. Gunawardene Tuesday, 01 October 2024 02:05 PM

Right time to take the right revenge towards Mahinda Rajapakshe who sent you to Jail. Now you have an Honest President who can fight for you. Don't worry please proceed with your good move.

5 2

NV Jen Tuesday, 01 October 2024 04:35 PM

Better to repeal this centuries old 'contempt of court act', which is being carried forward from Colonial times. India has done away with this stupid provision. No judge is infallible and is above criticism.

1 3

Abd Tuesday, 01 October 2024 05:43 PM

People who followed well how he RR handled catching thieves and what he had done and attitude behind illegal attempt to send felon duminda Silva to gallows ,certainly understand this guy is uneducated lowly person, judges who had unsuitable decisions with him including Shani A got into his trap and failed but Nishantha Kandappa bat nicely with commendation,may be popular but not fit to work with NPP, dubious character

0 4

Dilakshan Senevirathne Tuesday, 01 October 2024 06:06 PM

You proved that Shani was an evidence manufacturer and now Shani is in high position so you will not get anything. Just keep your intimate relations with female models like Piymi Hansamali and live your life. AKD is only appointing only those who were selected by Gota as AKD knows that Gota was good in people selection.

2 5

Karalasingam Sivalingam Tuesday, 01 October 2024 07:20 PM

Ranjan Ramanayaka deserves a pardon, open hearted politician, uttered matters affecting the judiciary, may be due to his ignorance of the law. He didn't murder anyone nor robbed or involved in corruption.

2 3

Dilakshan Senevirathne Tuesday, 01 October 2024 09:30 PM

As long as your most important part of the body functions well you should live your love life and be happy. Leave AKD alone.

0 1

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