Ranjan Ramanayake contempt of court case postponed till March 26

The Supreme Court today (Jan 30) having accepted the objections put forward by the respondent party in the case concerning  Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake's alleged comments against the judiciary, has decided to postpone the hearing of the case till March 26.

Mr  Ramanayake is accused of Contempt of Court for making serious criticisms against the Courts and the legal profession saying that most of the lawyers and judges in the country are corrupt and they were ruining the country.

The bench comprised Justices Sisira De Abrew, Prasanna Jayawardena and Vijith Malagoda.

Additional Solicitor General Priyantha Navana, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, handed over the video recordings  from a private television channel of respondent Ranjan Ramanayake's alleged remarks.

President's Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran who appeared on behalf of Mr Ramanayake said, the respondent party had not been given copies of the video footage that was being presented as evidence by the prosecution.

Mr Sumanthiran stated that under the special provisions in the evidence ordinance, 45 days prior to filing of the footage as evidence, a copy should have been provided to them, and said that he objected to the conduct of this evidence since the Attorney General did not follow the legal provision.

The three-member judge bench of the Supreme Court  accepted the objections and denied  permission to argue to case further and decided to postpone the hearing.

Further the court ordered that the Attorney General  hand over copies of video footage  expected to be produced before court to the respondent party and  adjourned hearings till March 26 and 27.