The next aragalaya  will take the form of a guerrilla battle: Ranjan Ramanayake

People were always punished for what they said

Justice Minister asked me to promise that I would continue my fight against corruption

As means of taking revenge, I was transferred to the Angunukolapelessa prison 

I still haven’t accepted the ambassador post 

Everybody got together and ruined this country. We are indebted to the World Bank. When we gained independence in 1948, we didn’t have any debts to pay to World Bank. But now, we have to pay USD 55 billion to the World Bank

There’s this thing in Sri Lanka where they attack someone for what they said. It’s like killing the messenger. This is a dangerous precedent as such moves bury the truth

Many politicians thought that there won’t be any resistance movement in Sri Lanka. They thought Sinhala people forget everything soon

If we take countries like New Zealand, Switzerland, Finland or even Dubai people won’t join protests because they have everything. There has to be a reason to justify a protest

We look at the Aragalaya as something confined to one country. But there were protests in London, France, USA and as such the Aragalaya became international

This protest is fair in every form because people turned against politicians who robbed them of their money

Former parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake was imprisoned for a period of one year and seven months following his remarks on alleged corruption among lawyers. He was released on August 26, 2022, on several terms and conditions, one being that he is barred from making any comments regarding Sri Lanka’s judiciary. One of his popular phrases ‘they are all friends’ which was made in reference to politicians and their underhand deals was another reason that led to his conviction. 

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Ramanayake spoke about how it feels like to be devoid of his right to freedom of expression, the progress of the Aragalaya, his experience while in prison and his future plans in politics. 

Excerpts: 
Q Do you regret speaking your heart out about alleged corruption that happens within the judiciary?
I don’t have the right to talk or explain about the judiciary including judges, Attorney General’s Department etc. Therefore, I’m unable to respond to this question. 

Q One of your popular phrases ‘they are all friends’ led to your conviction. But many have realised 
that this is the reality. Your thoughts?
I’m glad that people have accepted what I have said. Everybody got together and ruined this country. We are indebted to the World Bank. When we gained independence in 1948, we didn’t have any debts to pay to World Bank. But now, we have to pay USD 55 billion to the World Bank. All of this was done by these friends. They have robbed the next generation of their future. I’m happy that my prediction has become a reality, but the fact that it became a reality makes me sad. 

Q You said in courts that you will not withdraw your opinion about the judges. But you had to apologize in order to be released. Did you apologize in agreement with your conscience?
If I answer this question I will have to go back to jail. Therefore I will refrain from responding to this question as I respect the law and Constitution of this country. But I will block the answer to this question in my mind. People were always punished for what they said. But what is being said and what is in your mind can be different. I continue to suffer as I keep many comments to myself. Under clause 14 (1) a of the Constitution, I’m unable to make any comments.

Q This means that there are limits to your right to Freedom of Expression. How do you feel about it?
It’s like tying someone’s hands and legs and throwing him into water. It’s difficult to bear this feeling. Even animals have freedom of expression. There’s this thing in Sri Lanka where they attack someone for what they said. It’s like killing the messenger. This is a dangerous precedent as such moves bury the truth. 

Q Do you think that this entire episode was an act of revenge?
There were instances when Justice Sarath N. Silva said that I don’t deserve to be sent to prison. They regretted their own decisions. I feel that this entire episode unfolded as I became a target. This is what the public says. It’s fate. 

Q The public praised you when you exposed telephone recordings that revealed corruption among high-ranking politicians. Will you continue your lone efforts to curb corruption among the political culture?
Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe took a promise just before I was being released. Just before giving the verdict, he asked me to promise that I would continue my fight against corruption. I was quite happy with this request and I’m allowed to expose corruption and fraud in every other sector but I’m not allowed to speak about judges, lawyers, Attorney General’s department and the judiciary. 

Q What are your thoughts regarding the Aragalaya, how it ended and  its aftermath?
Many politicians thought that there won’t be any resistance movement in Sri Lanka. They thought Sinhala people forget everything soon. There were mothers who came to the protest carrying three or four-month old infants. This is something we saw for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history. Just imagine the pressure on people. This is the extent to which politicians have ruined this country and people couldn’t bear it anymore. If we take countries like New Zealand, Switzerland, Finland or even Dubai people won’t join protests because they have everything. There has to be a reason to justify a protest. This protest is fair in every form because people turned against politicians who robbed them of their money. 

I don’t know if you remember but when I said that I don’t have a place to go, there were people to offer me a house to live in. When I said I didn’t have a vehicle there were people who were willing to offer me a vehicle. But the same people set fire to houses of politicians as well. 

Q What are your thoughts regarding its conclusion?
This question itself is wrong. The Aragalaya is not over; it had just begun. Only the location has changed. 
The prevailing situation is similar to that of an active volcano. With the price of bread skyrocketing to Rs. 300 and a price of an egg at Rs. 65 we are now in a highly volatile situation. Recently the Central Bank Governor had said that the next resistance movement by the people would end in bloodshed. My prediction is that the next Aragalaya will take the form of a guerrilla battle. What we saw was a peaceful resistance movement by the people and it was repressed in an undemocratic manner. Therefore, just imagine how people’s anger would explode. The protesters have now changed their strategy. We look at the Aragalaya as something confined to one country. But there were protests in London, France, USA and as such the Aragalaya became international. At the same time, the Aragalaya became less popular in certain instances as well. The politicians are celebrating over it and gaining some self-satisfaction. This anger might explode during an election or even before. The government didn’t provide any solutions but attacked peaceful protesters instead. This is not a sign of democracy and many foreign diplomats have raised concerns as well. They say that everybody who took to the streets were wrong and that they are right. But the rulers are wrong. When did we ever see people in the Maldives protesting against a world leader? Even Idi Amin didn’t face such circumstances. When he fled to Saudi, people in Saudi didn’t protest against him on the streets. But people protested against Gotabaya Rajapaksa. When Mahinda Rajapaksa was hiding at the Trincomalee Navy Base there were fishermen who pumped their own fuel and surrounded the Navy Base from the sea. A 6.9 million vote mandate was given because people loved him. There’s a fine line between love and hate. This is the same in the arts field as well. If we don’t respond to a call by a fan, he will feel disturbed. This is because they love us. When they love someone dearly, they expect more as well. This is what happened to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 

Q Would you like to share your experience while in prison?
It was relative. I was arrested on January 12, 2021. This was the peak of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s regime. As means of taking revenge, they transferred me to the Angunukolapelessa Prison when I should ideally be sent to Welikada. I would have had better access to lawyers, doctors etc. if I was in Colombo. They considered me as a dangerous criminal. One had to spend three hours to visit me and another three hours to return. Even food would become stale by the time someone reached the prison premises. Initially, they took a lot of revenge as I didn’t have a bed, table or chair inside the cell. But as the regime’s popularity deteriorated, they started treating me better. Thereafter instead of one piece of fish, they offered me two (laughs). I got an infection after eating fish served at the prison. The stocks were quite stale. Even though the Prison’s Commissioner said that there are chefs who cook food at the prison, I’m sure he has mistaken prison food to that of a hotel. I haven’t seen any of the cooks wearing gloves or surgical caps in prison. It’s the prisoners who cook food here. Some were ill, they had wounds in their hands but would serve a piece of fish as well. It was quite unhygienic. I have evidence to prove what I say. Even during an emergency, there’s no fuel to send someone to a hospital. The jailers are the least paid public servants in the country. They don’t have the same privileges as the military or Police. On the other hand, prisoners too face injustice. There are no suppliers to supply food to prison. The Prisons Department is heavily indebted. 

Q You have been given an ambassador post to promote welfare of foreign workers. What is your role here?
Even though this post was offered I haven’t officially accepted it. When I was released Manusha Nanayakkara offered me an ambassador post saying that I have done a lot of work in this regard. But if I accepted it, people would think that I struck a deal with them. I said I don’t need any posts and I now live at the Madiwela Minister’s quarters. 

Q What are your future plans in politics?
I still haven’t decided as yet. Some have advised me to stay in politics and give up cinema. They have suggested that I join various parties. I’m listening to all that they are saying but I haven’t decided what I would be doing as yet.