Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) former Parliamentarian, Ranjan Ramanayake, has apologised to the judiciary for committing the offence of contempt of court.
In his affidavit, the former parliamentarian promises not to say anything critical or derogatory about the judiciary for the rest of his life.
Ramanayake had filed a motion with an affidavit in the Supreme Court through Attorney-at-law Dinesh Vidanapathirana.
On January 12, 2021, the Supreme Court convicted Ranjan Ramanayake for the offence of contempt of court and sentenced him to a term of four years of rigorous imprisonment.
In his affidavit, Ramanayake stated that the statement made by him outside Temple Trees on the 21st of August, 2017 was completely and utterly false. He further stated that the said statement was derogatory and contemptuous of the entire judiciary of Sri Lanka. Ramanayake said he is seeking forgiveness from the entire Sri Lankan judiciary for the false statement he made outside the Temple Trees.
Ramanayake further stated that the several statements made by him outside the Supreme Court premises, stating that he would not withdraw the statement made by him on the 21st of August 2017, were false, wrongful, and derogatory of the entire judiciary of Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Ranjan Ramanayake stated that in the future and in his entire life, he will not make any statements critical or derogatory of the Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court and all other judges of the Appellate Courts as well as the original courts.
Ramanayake was charged with committing the offence of contempt of court punishable under Article 105(3) of the constitution when he made the statement on August 21, 2017, outside the Temple Trees.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Sisira de Abrew, Justice Vijith Malalgoda and Justice Preethi Padman Surasena unanimously affirmed the rule served on Ramanayake and held that the charge of contempt of court levelled against him had been proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
