• Says hope to come back to active politics someday
• I will continue to fight against corruption as requested by many

By Yohan Perera

Former MP Ranjan Ramanayake who came out of prison after having been granted a conditional pardon yesterday said he will stay independent without joining any political party for now but hope to come back to active politics later.  

“I will stay independent without joining any political party for now, but I hope to come back to active politics someday before I die. However, I will stand with the people without joining any political party as of now,” he told the media after coming out of Welikada prison.

Mr. Ramanayake said he will continue to campaign against corruption. “I will continue to fight against corruption as requested by many,” he said in this regard.

He thanked President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ministers Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Ali Sabry, Manusha Nanayakkara,  Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and other Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs for all the support they have given him.

The former MP came out accompanied by Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Minister Nanayakkara and a few SJB MPs.  A large crowd including a few artistes were heard chanting “Ranja Ranja” as he came out.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday signed the document regarding the granting of a conditional presidential pardon to former MP who was convicted for contempt of court, the Presidential Media Division said.
The President signed the documents to grant a conditional pardon to former MP earlier during the day, with a condition that he will not make any statement or action that insults the court in the future.

Mr. Ramanayake filed an affidavit to the Courts on Thursday asking for pardon for the statements he made on the judiciary.  Through his affidavit, he said he would withdraw what he said on the Judiciary and pledged not to make such statements once again.

He was convicted for contempt of Courts in Initially on January 21, 2021 for what he said about the judiciary in front of Temple Trees on August 21, 2017.