Lohan Ratwatte, State Minister of Prison Management and Rehabilitation of Prisoners say that no one has given a valid reason to release former Member of Parliament Ranjan Ramanayake.
He says the allegation against Ranjan is serious. He says that he has been provided with all the necessary facilities and has been given a grace period of 3 months to keep his belongings at the Madiwela MP’s official residence.
Ranjan Ramanayake is accused of insulting the judiciary. But Duminda Silva, who granted the presidential pardon two months ago, was charged with murder. The Minister of Prisons may not be aware of which is the most serious of these two issues
It is questionable whether he has forgotten all the past when he raised question like this, with knowing the difference between granting a presidential pardon to a death row inmate and a general pardon to a prisoner.
Many artists are now organizing to demand a presidential pardon for Ranjan Ramanayake. Their organization had held a press conference in Colombo recently and made a request in this regard.
Also, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya party recently requested for the release of Ranjan Ramanayake under a general amnesty and the President said that to present any of justifiable reason that they have to made such a request. Meanwhile, his official residence was also taken back over by Samagi Janabalawegaya MP Manusha Nanayakkara and returned to Ranjan Ramanayake for his duties.
Shani