He didn’t listen to me” - S. B. Dissanayake comments on Ranjan’s verdict…

• Another politician who faced similar penalties was former Minister S. B. Dissanayake who in 2004 was jailed for two years on charges of Contempt of Court. Dissanayake was an opposition MP with the United National Party (UNP) at the time
• According to Article 89 of the Constitution, no lawmaker can be qualified as an elected member of parliament for seven years, if imprisoned for a jail term of more than six months. However, brushes with the law are no barrier to political careers in Sri Lanka

“I will not withdraw my comments, I will not apologize,” actor-turned politician Ranjan Ramanayake said as he was handcuffed and escorted away from court. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya parliamentarian was sentenced to four-years Rigorous Imprisonment for Contempt of Court by the Supreme Court yesterday.

The Attorney General filed Contempt of Court charges against the parliamentarian for remarks against the judiciary during a media briefing in Colombo. Addressing media following a meeting with the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees, Ranjan Ramanayake on August 17, 2017 was alleged to have stated that the majority of judges and lawyers in the country were corrupt.

"I honestly feel sad for him. Ranjan may have many weaknesses. But he is a good human being with noble qualities. This is something I say often. Ranjan gives away all what he had earned to the needy, he doesn’t have a house, doesn’t have any vehicles"

The case was heard before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Sisira de Abrew, Vijith Malalgoda and Preethi Padman Soorasena. The complaint stated that Ramanayake insulted the judiciary and thereby undermined public faith in the judiciary. 

The Supreme Court ruling means that Ramanayake would have no means to appeal his sentence, while the ruling would also have serious implications on his political career. 
The charismatic parliamentarian is no stranger to encounters with authorities. The outspoken former silver screen artiste is often seen as a harsh critic of the government with a huge following on social media. Following yesterday’s verdict, a seemingly unapologetic, Ramanayake was recorded saying that he is not afraid, nor will he be withdrawing any comments on corruption that he has 
made in the past. 

The laws on contempt in Sri Lanka are based on Common Law, guided by the British Law. According to Article 89 of the Constitution, no lawmaker can be qualified as an elected member of parliament for seven years, if imprisoned for a jail term of more than six months. However, brushes with the law are no barrier to political careers in Sri Lanka. Another politician who faced similar penalties was former Minister S. B. Dissanayake who in 2004 was jailed for two years on charges of Contempt of Court. Dissanayake who was an opposition MP with the United National Party (UNP) at the time he was imprisoned during the tenure of Chief Justice 
Sarath N. Silva. 

S. B. Dissanayake

Interestingly former Minister Dissanayake who allegedly made the offensive statement against the Supreme Court and judges at the time, was granted a presidential pardon and released in February 2006. The incident attracted controversy as the penalty for Contempt of Court was unusual at the time. 

The Daily Mirror spoke to former minister S. B. Dissanayake on his thoughts about Ranjan Ramanayake’s verdict.  “The Supreme Court arrived at this decision not because Ranjan spoke against corruption. He harshly criticized the judiciary,” he said.

“Ranjan was a deputy minister of mine. I told him that this allegation was serious. He could have made a public apology and settled matters. However that’s not what he chose to do. I told him repeatedly that this was a serious matter as it was a charge made against all judges of the country. I don’t think that charge was fair. I even requested him several times to apologize, but he didn’t listen to me, even when I told him that he might face serious repercussions,” Dissanayake recalled. 

"The Supreme Court arrived at this decision not because Ranjan spoke against corruption. He harshly criticized the judiciary"

Former Minister Dissanayake said that Ranjan did not believe him, despite his constant warnings. “I honestly feel sad for him. Ranjan may have many weaknesses. But he is a good human being with noble qualities. This is something I say often. Ranjan gives away all what he had earned to the needy, he doesn’t have a house, doesn’t have any vehicles. He is that kind of a man, but he wasn’t prepared to settle this matter either. I’m honestly sad that it he was brought to this situation. But I did expect this outcome,” he said.

Compared to other countries, our Supreme Court and judges are impartial, Dissanayake said. “We wish to see an independent judiciary and we have that in our country. Therefore I believe Ranjan was responsible for his actions.”
Recalling his own tussle with the law, Dissanayake said that the situations are not comparable. “Ranjan’s charges against the judiciary weren’t fair. In my case, I made charges against the Chief Justice. Even today I will make the same charges against Sarath N. Silva. Not only that, I was acquitted in an international court.  Supreme Court judges of 13 countries, as well as the Indian Chief Justice at the time my case was heard. The court ruled that I was to be compensated by the Government of Sri Lanka. I stand by my statements even today.  But that was a different case; it doesn’t involve a particular judge. Ranjan made an allegation against the entire judiciary, which isn’t appropriate,” Dissanayake opined.