Former MP Ranjan Ramanayake will not have Political rights according to the Presidential pardon granted to him by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
“Ranjan Ramanayake has been pardoned under Article 34 (1) by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, which is a conditional pardon, to get a full Presidential Pardon with Political Rights a pardon should be made under Article 34 (2) of the Constitution” Justice Ministry official Rakitha Rajapaksa told NewsWire.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa attending a press briefing with Ranjan Ramanayake this afternoon requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe to grant a full Presidential Pardon for Ranjan Ramanayake with Political Rights.
The Opposition Leader said the President and the Government must Grant a Full Presidential Pardon to Ranjan Ramanayake that will include his civic and political rights.
According to the Sri Lankan law, a person imprisoned for more than two years will lose his political and civic rights for 7 years unless a full Presidential pardon is granted.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had previously granted full Presidential pardons for SB Dissanayake and Sarath Fonseka when they in prison, which allowed them to contest in elections soon after their release.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena also granted a full Presidential pardon for venerable Galagodaththe Gnanasara thero when he was jailed for contempt of court similarly to Ranjan Ramanayake in 2019.
Meanwhile, Minister Harin Fernando had tweeted about Ranjan Ramanayake’s release with a hint for his former party members.
“I am glad of my political decision I took. When you do your part, you dont have to prove them in pictures and on media, glad my friend ranjan @RamanayakeR is free. That is all that matters to me.” Harin Fernando tweeted with hashtags #betrue #fakeconcern. (NewsWire)