Former Western Province Chief Minister and former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga was scheduled today to pay the remaining Rs. 9 million of the Rs. 25 million fine imposed on him by the Colombo High Court. However, when the case was taken up, he requested more time through his lawyer to settle the remaining balance.

Granting the request, High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga ordered that the case be called again on February 1 next year for the payment of the remaining sum.

Key Points

  • Only Rs. 9 million remains to be paid out of the Rs. 25 million fine
  • The former minister sought more time to settle the amount due today
  • The case will be called again on February 1 next year to pay the balance

Extortion charge and the verdict

The case dates back to April 10, 2015. The main charge against Prasanna Ranatunga was that he extorted Rs. 64 million from businessman S. Christian Gihan Mendis to grant approval for the reclamation of a plot of land in Meethotamulla, threatening him and accepting an advance of Rs. 15 million.

Delivering the verdict on June 6, 2022, the Colombo High Court convicted Prasanna Ranatunga and sentenced him to two years of rigorous imprisonment, suspended for five years. In addition, he was ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 25 million and Rs. 1 million in compensation to the businessman, with an additional nine-year prison sentence if the fine was not paid. His wife, Maureen Stella Ranatunga, was acquitted of the charges.

Withdrawal of the appeal

When the appeal filed against the conviction before a five-judge bench of the Court of Appeal was taken up, President's Counsel Faizer Musthapha, appearing for Prasanna Ranatunga, informed court that his client was prepared to withdraw the appeal if given time to pay the fine and compensation. As there were no objections from the Attorney General or the aggrieved party, permission was granted to withdraw the petition.

Accordingly, only Rs. 9 million remains to be paid out of the original Rs. 25 million fine, and he has now been granted further time to settle it.

What's next?

The case is scheduled to be called again before the Colombo High Court on February 1 next year for the payment of the remaining Rs. 9 million.