RANJAN’S SEAT IN PARLIAMENT FALLEN VACANT

BY SHEAIN FERNANDOPULLE

Attorney General Dappula de Livera has advised Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake that Ranjan Ramanayake’s seat in parliament has fallen vacant following his conviction and sentence for Contempt of Court, the AG's Coordinating Officer said. Accordingly, former Deputy Minister Ajith Mannapperuma is reportedly in line to fill the vacancy created in Parliament. As Ramanayake loses his seat, the Elections Commission has to notify it through a gazette notification and the SJB General Secretary has to nominate the next eligible nominee in the list.

Accordingly, MannapPeruma stands next in the list with 47,212 preferential votes. The Supreme Court on January 12 sentenced actorturned parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake to four years rigorous imprisonment for contempt of court.