• Former MP is serving a prison sentence for contempt of Court

By Yohan Perera

Whilst the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is expecting that former MP Ranjan Ramanayake who is serving a prison sentence for contempt of Court to be released on February 4, 2022, the Spokesman for Prisons Department Chandana Ekanayake said the matter could be confirmed by Thursday. 

“We have not received any information on the release of Mr. Ramanayake while the list of prisoners who will be released on Independence Day will be finalised by Thursday,” Mr. Ekanayake said.

Meanwhile, SJB MP Niroshan Perera said his party is expecting that Mr. Ramanayake will be released on Friday. “I met Mr. Ramanayake at Welikada prison a few days ago and he was expecting to be released on February 4,” MP Perera said.

In another development, MP Harin Fernando who had pledged to resign from his parliamentary seat to accommodate Mr. Ramanayake said the authorities have assured that the latter would be released soon but not on February 4 ,2022.  

• MP Harin Fernando had pledged to resign from his parliamentary seat  to accommodate Mr. Ramanayake