Ranil cannot be granted bail – NPP Lawyers

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot be granted bail as the offence, as per the Public Property Act, is more than Rs. 25,000, the National People’s Power (NPP) Legal wing said yesterday.   

“One cannot be bailed out for an offence on misuse of public property if it involves more than Rs 25,000. The former President has used sterling pounds 44,000 which is equivalent to Rs 16.6 million for his tour to the UK to attend his wife’s convocation,” Lawyer Upun Kumaraperuma told a press conference yesterday.   

At the same time he said Wickremesinghe has been dealt with under the penal code for committing a fraud. “He has used public funds for his personal use,” Kumaraperuma said   
“The opposition tries to create a wrong picture by arguing that Wickremesinghe was arrested outside the legal procedure and arguing that he cannot be penalized as he is a former President. These presumptions are wrong as everyone is equal under the law,” he said.