Former Minister Ranawaka granted bail

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday granted bail for Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka who was in remand custody over his alleged involvement in a 2016 motor vehicle accident.

Ranwaka was released on a Rs. 25,000 bail bond and two personal bail bonds worth Rs. 500,000 each by Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjala De Silva.   The Sinhala Urumaya MP’s arrest sparked condemnation from Opposition politicians who pointed out that the case was heard and a verdict given before. 

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya voiced concern that due process and Parliamentary privileges were not upheld during the arrests. 

Opposition MPs have called the arrest a political witch-hunt by the new Government.    

The National Police Commission has asked the Acting Inspector General of Police Chandana Wickramaratne to compile a detailed report on the process followed when arresting the Parliamentarian.