Suspended sentence and Rs.25 Mn fine to stand as Prasanna Ranatunga drops Appeal

Former Minister Ranatunga was convicted for over an indictment filed for threatening a businessman over the phone and demanding Rs.64 million in 2015

Former Minister Ranatunga sought the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to review and set aside his conviction and the sentence imposed by Colombo High Court

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

An appeal filed by former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, challenging the Colombo High Court’s judgment to impose a suspended term of imprisonment in connection with the Meethotamulla extortion case, was withdrawn by him yesterday before the Court of Appeal.  

With this withdrawal, the suspended imprisonment together with the fine of Rs. 25 million imposed by the Colombo High Court on Prasanna Ranatunga will remain in effect. The Court permitted him to pay the fine on an installments basis.  

When the appeal petition was called before a five-judge bench of the Court of Appeal, headed by Justice Mayadunne Corea, counsel appearing on behalf of Prasanna Ranatunga sought permission to withdraw the petition.  

Former Minister Ranatunga was convicted for the thirteenth count out of fifteen by Colombo High Court over an indictment filed for threatening a businessman over the phone and demanding Rs.64 million in 2015. Accordingly, he was sentenced to two-year-rigorous imprisonment suspended for five years by Colombo High Court. The Court further ordered the former Minister to pay a fine of Rs.25 million. The thirteenth count had been filed under section 373 for extortion in order to execute five promissory notes in a dishonest manner after threatening the businessman.   

Through his appeal, former Minister Ranatunga sought the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to review and set aside his conviction and the sentence imposed by Colombo High Court.