Actor-turned politician and former Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake, who is serving a four-year sentence for Contempt of Court, signed a document relating to a opresidential pardon yesterday (August 13).
This was confirmed by his attorney-at-law Dinesh Vidanapathirana. He said the document was signed on the advice of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
He said the copies of the affidavit will be handed over to the President, Chief Justice and other Supreme Court Judges and Minister of Justice Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in due course. A final decision regarding Ramanayake’s release will be taken afterwards.
Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said earlier in August that Ramanayake must first submit an affidavit apologising for the charges against him. The Supreme Court sentenced Ramanayake to four years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) on January 12, 2021, over contempt of court charges, in connection with certain disparaging remarks he had allegedly made about the Judiciary in August 2017.
President Wickremesinghe had publicly declared that a Presidential pardon for Ramanayake, will be considered.