AG indicts Prasanna Ranatunga on Meethotamulla land case

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Attorney General yesterday (3) informed the Supreme Court that an indictment against former Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has been filed on 25 May before the Colombo High Court and the case is to be taken up on 17 June.

In the circumstances, the Supreme Court fixed his right petition to be mentioned on 20 July as to whether the petition wants to proceed with his petition. Petitioner Prasanna Ranatunga in his petition has challenged the institution of proceedings by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) against him.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice K. Sripavan and Justices Upaly Abeyrathne and Anil Gooneratne.

Petitioner cited Dhammika Gamage (OIC), ASP Renuka Jayasundera, DIG Ravi Waidyalankara, all of the FCID, IGP, Minister of Policy Planning and Economics Affairs, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Minister of Public Order and Christian Affairs, M.K. Ananda Wijepala of the Anti-Corruption Secretariat, Complainant Gehard Mendis (Silicon Technologies Ltd. and the Attorney General as Respondents.

Manohara de Silva PC appeared for the Petitioner. K. Kaneg Iswaran PC instructed by G.G. Arulpragasam appeared for Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Rienzie Arsecularatne PC appeared for the 8th Respondent, the complainant Gehard Mendis. Deputy Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appeared for the Attorney General.

Petitioner stated that the complainant had lodged a complaint against him to the FCID or the purported Anti-Corruption Secretariat regarding his involvement in the transactions of a land in Meethotamulla of 322 perches in extent.

He stated that OIC of FCID had sought from the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court to issue notice on him and his wife Maureen Ranatunga and that the Magistrate’s Court granted bail to them.

He maintained that the FCID had been established purportedly based on a Gazette notification and is not a lawfully established division of the Police. He stated the Code of Criminal Procedure governs receiving information in relation to commission of offences and investigations thereto and contends that the forwarding of complaints by a Cabinet Sub-Committee to the said Division directly bypassing the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure is unlawful and the same is functioning without jurisdiction.

He alleged the complainant made the purported complaint referred to in the B-report alleging that the Petitioner was demanding payment of Rs. 64 million from the Petitioner and/or Silicon Technologies Ltd. for clearing the land of unlawful occupants and facilitating approval for filling the land.