Full details of the case in which Minister Prasanna was convicted

The Colombo High Court yesterday (Jan. 06) sentenced Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga to two years' rigorous imprisonment suspended for five years.

When he was the Chief Minister of the Western Province, he was convicted of threatening a businessman regarding a land and signing promissory notes.

High Court Judge Manjula Tilakaratne acquitted Minister Prasanna Ranatunga's wife Naresh Farik of all other charges in the case.

However, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga was found guilty of the 13th charge against him, namely, of threatening to sign promissory notes.

The High Court Judge stated in open court that the suspect Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had tried to illegally acquire a property which he did not legally own.

President's Counsel Anil Silva then moved the court regarding the commutation of the sentence of his client Prasanna Ranatunga.

"Sir, my client underwent surgery on March 20, 2022. His house in Udugampola was completely destroyed in the recent Gulface incident and his daughter's wedding was postponed due to that incident. Due to this, the number of tourists visiting the country has decreased and a wrong image of the country has been created in the eyes of the world. My client is a Cabinet Minister.

However, Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileep Peiris also spoke on behalf of the complainant regarding the commutation of the sentence.

"Sir, this is not an admission of guilt at the outset of this case. It is a decision taken by us, the complainant, from the tax money of the people of the country, after four years of prosecution. He was not sent to the Western Provincial Council to make a business deal.

After considering the facts, High Court Judge Manjula Tilakaratne sentenced the convicted Minister Prasanna Ranatunga to two years imprisonment with hard labor and suspended it for five years.

The court also ordered the minister to pay a fine of Rs. 25 million for the offense, failing which he could face up to nine months in prison with hard labor.

High Court Judge Manjula Tillekeratne further ordered the plaintiff to pay a compensation of one million rupees and if he does not pay, he will be sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labor.