- Files writ petition in the Court of Appeal
Maverick film actor turned politician Ranjan Ramanayake today claimed his Parliamentary seat through a writ petition filed in the Court Of Appeal.
Ramanayake by his petition seeks an order restraining the Secretary General of Parliament taking any steps to inform the election Commission that he has vacated his seat as a Member of Parliament.
He represents Gampaha district as a member elected from the Samagi Jana Bala Wegaya.
The Supreme Court recently convicted Ranjan Ramanayake for contempt of court and sentenced him to a term of four years rigorous imprisonment.
Filing this petition through counsel Dinesh Vidanapathirana, the petitioner states that irreparable harm and damage will be caused to him unless interim relief is granted to him inasmuch as he will be deprived of functioning as a Member of Parliament.
The Petitioner further states that the People’s franchise would also be adversely affected if he is wrongfully prevented from functioning as a representative of his electorate.
Ramanayake alleges that Secretary General of Parliament has not taken any step in terms of section 64 (c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act concerning Premalal Jayasekara who has been elected as a Member of Parliament from the SLPP which is presently the governing party and continues to sit and vote as a Member of Parliament despite his conviction for murder and subsequent sentence of death penalty.
He alleges that if he is prevented from attending Parliamentary proceedings, the Secretary General of Parliament would be acting illegally, unlawfully, and inter alia in violation of Article 12(1) and Article 12(2) of the Constitution which guarantee the petitioner the equal protection of the law and freedom from discrimination on the grounds of political opinion.
