SC orders Sirasa TV to furnish whole CD

Contempt charge on Ranjan Ramanayake: The Supreme Court yesterday ordered Sirasa TV to furnish the complete Compact Disc (CD) recording of the statement allegedly made by Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake on August 21, 2017. The Bench comprising Justices B.p.aluvihara,anil Gooneratne and Vijith K. Malalgoda fixed the matter to be mentioned on January 22, 2018 over the alleged charge of contempt against Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake in respect of two petitions

Petitioners state that the utterance/statement is made at a time where the international community and organizations are trying to force the country to establish special courts /tribunals to charge the war heroes with the participation of judges from overseas and infringing the sovereignty of the people.

complaining of him for having committed the alleged offence of Contempt of Court. Chief Justice Priyasath Dep had nominated a Bench comprising himself, Justices Eva Wanasundera and Vijith K. Malalgoda to hear the petitions.

Petitioners Sunil Perera and Ven. Magalkande Sudaththa Thera are seeking contempt of court action against the Deputy Minister for Social Empowerment,welfare and Kandyan Heritage Ranjan Ramanayake for alleged statement/ insult made at a media conference held on August 21 allegedly damaging the reputation of the Judiciary and the Lawyers. Rasika Tissanayake with Suraj Walgama appeared for the Petitioners.

The Petitioners allege the statement amounted to disrepute and insult to the judiciary and the lawyers of the country.t

Petitioners state that the utterance/ statement is made at a time where the international community and organizations are trying to force the country to establish special courts /tribunals to charge the war heroes with the participation of judges from overseas and infringing the sovereignty of the people. They contended that his attack and the insult into the judiciary of the country could lead to bifurcation of complex issues faced by the country. They state that the utterance/statement made by the Respondent ridicules and is insulting to the members of the legal profession at large who are the officers of the court also amount to the commission of the offence of contempt of Court.