Ranjan Ramanayake walks free

Actor turned Politician Ranjan Ramanayake was welcomed with flowers and garlands as walked free from the Welikada prisons following a Presidential pardon received.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadsa along with a host of Samagi Jana Balawegaywa MPs as well as SJB member Manusha Nanayakkara now backing President Ranil Wickremesinghe were outside the prison to welcome him.

Hundreds waited for the release of Mr Ramanayake from earlier in the day following confirmation from the President’s office that he had been granted a conditional pardon that he would not make any statement critical or derogatory of the entire judiciary in future. 

Mr Ramanayake later addressing a press conference with Mr Premadasa said that he would have to restrict himself due to the conditions imposed on him.

He said he does not intend to change his political party.

Mr Premadasa said that the presidential pardon granted was conditinal and a fully pardon needs to be granted for him to engage in political work. "In the first available opporutnity we will get him back to Parliamnt. 

The Secretary to the Ministry of Justice was entrusted with the task of carrying out the necessary arrangements for Ramanayake’s release.

Ramanayake had made statements insulting the judiciary primarily outside Temple Trees on 21^st August 2017. The Supreme Court delivered its judgement on 12^th January 2021 convicting him for the offence of contempt of court and sentenced him to four years rigorous imprisonment. 

Submitting an Affidavit to court yesterday (25), Ranjan Ramanayake had stated that having reflected deeply on the statement made by him outside Temple Trees on 21^st of August 2017, he admits that the statement he made is completely and utterly false and derogatory and contemptuous of the entire judiciary and humbly and profoundly apologized and sought the forgiveness of the entire judiciary.

Further, Ramanayake also sought forgiveness for the derogatory statement he made outside the Supreme Court premises claiming that he would not withdraw the statement he made on the 21^st of August 2017.

He also gave an assurance that he would never again, in his entire lifetime; make any statement critical or derogatory of the entire judiciary. Pix By Eshan Fernado

 Mr Ramanayake left in the vehicle of  the Opposition Leader .

 Meanwhile Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said Mr Ramanayake is to be appointed as the  Goodwill Ambassador of  Migrant workers of the Labour and Foreign Employment.