Former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has agreed to pay a Rs. 25 million fine and withdraw his appeal in connection with a case involving the alleged solicitation of money from a businessman over land in Meethotamulla.

The development came during proceedings before the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka, where counsel appearing for Ranatunga informed court that his client was prepared to withdraw the appeal if time was granted to settle the fine and compensation.

The case stems from a 2015 incident in which Ranatunga was accused of demanding Rs. 64 million from businessman S. Christian Gihan Mendis in exchange for granting approval to develop a land in the Meethotamulla area. It was alleged that Rs. 15 million had been obtained following threats made to the businessman.

In June 2022, the Colombo High Court found Ranatunga guilty and imposed a two-year suspended prison sentence, a Rs. 25 million fine, and ordered him to pay Rs. 1 million as compensation to the affected businessman.

Ranatunga subsequently filed an appeal challenging the conviction, which he has now agreed to withdraw after indicating willingness to pay the fine and compensation. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court granted bail to former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, in connection with a corruption-related investigation yesterday, on medical grounds and a lack of evidence by the Bribery Commission, it was reported.

The Bribery Commission arrested Prasanna Ranatunga for causing a loss of over Rs. 04 million to the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation during his tenure as Minister of Tourism and Aviation in 2021.

It is reported that during a bail hearing, his counsel had informed the court that Ranatunga’s life could be at risk if he were unable to consume regular meals. 

The suspect’s counsel informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that the individual had undergone surgery and was unable to consume regular meals. 

It was stated that he requires small portions of food every four hours, supplemented with special protein mixtures, failing which he could go into a coma and his life could be at risk.

The counsel requested the court to consider these medical conditions when deciding on bail.

In response, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama noted, “At this stage, the court is not evaluating the merits of the case, but rather the bail application. Under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, the alleged offence is one for which bail may be granted by this court.”

He further observed that although the Bribery Commission had verbally claimed the suspect attempted to influence witnesses, no such details were included in the formal report, nor had statements been obtained from the relevant witnesses.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate further said that, additionally, there was no evidence indicating that the suspect had interfered with witnesses since the investigation began in 2022.

As such, Prasanna Ranatunga was released on a cash bail of Rs. 100,000 and two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each, while the court also imposed a travel ban preventing him from leaving the country. (Newswire)

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Former Minister of Tourism and Aviation Prasanna Ranatunga was granted bail today (12) by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court after being arrested earlier in the day by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

According to the Bribery Commission, Ranatunga was taken into custody over allegations of causing a financial loss exceeding Rs. 4 million to the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation in 2021.

Investigations revealed that while serving as the Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Ranatunga had allegedly intervened in the procurement process for direct insurance covers for employees of several state tourism bodies, including the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, the Sri Lanka Hotel Management Corporation, and the Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau.

The Bribery Commission said the former minister was accused of unlawfully appointing My Insurance Brokers, a private firm, to handle the insurance schemes, and directing the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation to pay a commission of Rs. 4,750,828.72 to the company. This action is said to have provided an undue financial benefit to the private broker and resulted in a loss to the state insurer.

Ranatunga’s arrest was made under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, which deals with corruption-related offences by public officials. (Newswire)

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The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Commission says former minister Prasanna Ranatunga has been arrested for causing a loss of over Rs.04 million to the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation in 2021. 

The former minister, who was arrested this morning, is scheduled to be produced before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Colombo.

According to the Bribery Commission, Prasanna Ranatunga has been arrested on allegations that while serving as the Minister of Tourism and Aviation in 2021 he was involved in a corrupt transaction concerning the procurement of direct insurance covers for the employees of institutions under the Ministry of Tourism, namely the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, the Sri Lanka Hotel Management Corporation, and the Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau.

The former minister had intervened and engaged in the illegal appointment of My Insurance Brokers, a private brokerage firm, to handle these insurance schemes and had directed the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation to pay a commission of Rs. 4,750,828.72 to the firm, resulting in undue financial gain to the broker and a loss to the state insurer.

As such, he was arrested by the Bribery Commission for this act, which constitutes an offence punishable under Section 70 of the Bribery Act. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, who appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption this morning (12), has been arrested.

According to reports, the former minister was summoned by the Bribery Commission to provide a statement.

It is reported that Prasanna Ranatunga was summoned to record a statement regarding ongoing investigations. 

According to the Bribery Commission, Prasanna Ranatunga has been arrested in connection with alleged irregularities involving direct medical insurance arrangements for employees of four institutions under the Ministry of Tourism, namely, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka Institute of Hotel Management, and the Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau.

Investigations reveal that My Insurance Brokers, a private brokerage firm, was illegally appointed to handle these insurance schemes. 

Subsequently, the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation was directed to pay a commission of Rs. 4,750,828.72 to the firm, resulting in undue financial gain to the broker and a loss to the state insurer.

Prasanna Ranatunga has been arrested on charges of having caused a loss to Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga today withdrew an appeal filed before the Court of Appeal, which sought an order to acquit and release him from the suspended prison sentence and fines imposed on him.

The appeal was taken up before a five-judge bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Judges Mayadunne Corea, Kumaran Ratnam, Sashi Mahendran, Damith Thotawatta, and Amal Ranaraja.

During the hearing, the bench, which had previously granted Ranatunga time to pay the Rs. 25 million fine in installments, permitted the withdrawal of the appeal.

Ranatunga was convicted in connection with threatening a businessman to obtain money for facilitating the filling of a land in the Meethotamulla area during his tenure as Chief Minister of the Western Province. (Newswire)

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Kavinda Jayawardena has requested Parliament to address the issue of visa issuance at the Katunayake Airport after video footage was shared on social media by a foreign tourist on the long queues at visa counters.

In the video, the tourist points out the lack of a proper system for visa issuance, the lack of prior information online, the failure of officials at counters to conduct the visa issuance systematically, and the lack of comfortable waiting space at the airport. 

Commenting on the video, MP Kavinda Jayawardena said that the visa issuance system was severely hindering Sri Lanka’s progress, which depends highly on the tourism industry. 

Stating that foreign tourists are being severely inconvenienced as a result, MP Jayawrdena questioned why the government was not taking any immediate action in this regard. 

“This is shameful to our nation. We are dependent on the tourism industry for our foreign exchange. We are charging US$ 50 per tourist. I hope the government can immediately intervene and address this issue,” he said.

Responding to the MP, Chief Government Whip Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that the government has taken steps to issue visa-free entry to 38 countries with immediate effect.

Addressing the Parliament, Minister Ranatunga said that Cabinet approval was given to the decision yesterday.

He further said that discussions were held at the Cabinet meeting to introduce a more convenient system in place of the on-arrival visa system at the Katunayake Airport, which will be a positive message to tourists visiting the nation.

Long queues and delays have been reported at the Katunayake Airport after the newly introduced visa issuance system at the Katunayake Airport ended in controversy.

The new visa issuance system by global visa processing service, VFS Global and its charges came under the spotlight after a local passenger had raised concerns over the process, with the video of the incident being widely circulated on social media.

A probe launched by the Committee on Public Finance also found that VFS Global had been picked without calling for official bids and had resulted in the Department of Immigration and Emigration losing out on receiving competitive rates for visa issuance.

In July this year, three petitions were filed at the Supreme Court against Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles and the government against the VFS visa procedure. 

Meanwhile, taking into consideration the petitions, the Supreme Court has ordered the new system to be suspended and for the old visa issuance system to be implemented. 

However, addressing the media last week, the petitioners claimed that the government has not implemented the old system properly resulting in chaos at the Katunayake Airport. (Newswire)

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Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has informed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a letter that he will support the current President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential election.

In the letter, the Minister mentions that the country is not currently in a suitable condition to take risks or experiment.

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has the capability of winning the Presidential Election if he contests as a national candidate under a common symbol, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. 

Speaking during a television talk show, Minister Ranatunga said if the President contests so with the support of all, he was sure to win the Presidential Election.

Minister Ranatunga also revealed that 80-90% of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna members, including himself, support the President and are of the view that they should continue with him.

On questions about whether Namal Rajapaksa would be fielded as the SLPP Presidential Candidate, Minister Rantunga said he would not support the decision.

He explained that this was so as Namal Rajapaksa has many more years to contest an election, adding that the people themselves will elect him as President in another 05 or 10 years. 

Minister Ranatunga also assured that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa will not contest the Presidential Election. (NewsWire)

Prasanna Ranatunga says will not support if Namal runs for president now pic.twitter.com/2SxBUamI9Y

— Ada Derana (@adaderana) April 2, 2024

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A Japanese Investor has shown interest in developing the floating market in Pettah as a tourist hotspot, Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga said. 

According to Daily News, Minister Ranatunga said that the floating market in Pettah will be developed targeting foreign investments to Sri Lanka. 

He further said that the measure was taken following recent concerns raised over the management by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) of the floating market.

Minister Ranatunga said, therefore, steps were taken to advise the UDA to develop the floating market under a public-private partnership.

Pointing out that the government was unable to fund the project due to the economic crisis, the minister said the UDA had invited potential investors for the project, during which a Japanese investor had expressed interest. 

Minister Ranatunga added that it is expected to develop the floating market in Pettah as a Japanese city cum floating market. (NewsWire)

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The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will take the right decision at the right time regarding its presidential candidate, party member and Chief Government Whip, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. 

Minister Ranatunga further assured that the SLPP always makes the right decision. 

He made the remarks after participating in the SLPP party members meeting held at the SLPP Office in Battaramulla today. (Mar 20).

When inquired by reporters on whether he was on the side of the SLPP or President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister Ranatunga said the President was with the SLPP, which does not take sides, and that everyone was on one side. 

On questions related to the Presidential Candidate of the SLPP, Minister Ranatunga said that the SLPP will decide in this regard and the decision will be made going forward. (NewsWire)

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The government spends approximately Rs. 10 million for one day of Parliament sittings, Chief Government Whip and Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said.

According to Daily News, Minister Ranatunga said the government had decided to hold a debate on the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill as it considered it to be beneficial to the country. 

The minister also pointed out that Parliament employees had worked continuously for ten days in view of the debate.

However, the Opposition had sabotaged the move and had lost a quorum in Parliament, he said. 

Minister Ranatunga said that even though the Opposition is attempting to portray the government as being opposed to the debate, instead they had behaved irresponsibly. 

Parliament sittings were adjourned on Sunday, due to a lack of quorum during the debate on the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill.

A proposal to take up the motion on the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill for debate in Parliament today was passed with a vote in Parliament this morning.

Accordingly, the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill will be taken up for debate this evening, following the debate on the Budget 2024. (NewsWire)

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National People’s Power (NPP) Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake slammed Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga today over the latter’s statement claiming that the NPP had obtained money from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva.

Addressing Parliament today, MP Dissanayake refuted the allegations, stating that he has never encountered Shammi Silva and has only seen him on television.

Slamming Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, MP Dissanayake stated that Ranatunga cannot make any statements in this regard, as the judiciary itself has convicted him for having sought ransom. 

MP Dissanayake further said the JVP has constantly advocated for the appointment of an interim committee for SLC several times and is of the view that the current SLC office bearers should be sacked. 

The JVP leader also accused the nation’s cricket administration of being controlled by three families, namely the Sumathipalas, Ranatungas, and Dharmadasas, adding that recently the Wijeyadasas have joined in. 

Stating that these families have over the years continuously fought for control over the SLC, MP Dissanayake said it has been observed in the past for some of these families to band together for the removal of one family from the SLC. 

The MP also said that although they support an interim administration they would have preferred a former cricketer like Sidath Wettamuny to be part of it instead of some questionable appointments, including retired judges.

Commenting on the joint proposal against the SLC passed in Parliament yesterday, the JVP leader clarified that the party was not present as the motion had been passed as it was understood there would be no vote on the matter.

MP Dissanayake said it was understood that a common consensus had already been reached among all parties, including the NPP, to pass the proposal, hence, the NPP members saw no reason to be present when it was passed.

MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake called on Minister Prasanna Ranatunga to provide a clarification in Parliament on the allegations levelled against the NPP. 

Meanwhile, responding to NPP leader, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that the statement he made on JVP accepting money from Shammi Silva was made based on hearsay and he did not have any evidence to say it.

He also said that he has appealed against the court verdict given against him on the ransom case and it was wrong of the NPP leader to claim he was found guilty. (NewsWire)

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The Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management has been tasked with identifying tourist attractions near the coastal areas of Sri Lanka and implementing a programme to attract both local and foreign tourists.

According to Mawratta News, the directives have been issued by Minister for Urban Development and Housing of Sri Lanka Prasanna Ranatunga. 

Minister Ranatunga says suitable investors will be found to develop the identified areas, with the support of the Urban Development Authority, and other institutions from both the government and private sectors.

It is reported that the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management has already identified 24 places for this purpose.

These identified locations include Gange Wadiya, Puttalam Lagoon Islands, Kudawa, Vaikkal, Negombo Lagoon, Kapungoda, Preethipura, Koggala Lagoon, Seethagalla, Rekava Lagoon, Lunama Lagoon, Malala Lewa, Kirinda, Kunukele Beach, Elephant Rock, Salathievu Island, Thambalagamuwa Bay, Governor Office, Uppuveli, Sampalthivu Beach, Ariyamalle Beach, Nayaru Beach, Nandikadal Beach, and Santhakulam Beach. 

Minister Ranatunga further stated that the systematic development of the coastal areas while protecting them will assist in resolving the economic crisis of Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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The government has decided to build four multi-storey car parks in Colombo to ease traffic congestion caused by vehicles entering Colombo and other traffic-prone areas on a daily basis. 

The car parks are being built by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) on the directives of the Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga and with the support of both the private and public sectors. 

According to Lankadeepa, two of the multi-storey car parks will be constructed by the UDA, while the other two car parks will be constructed by the private sector. 

The car parks are expected to be built in front of the Sri Lanka Telecom Institution in Colombo, the old fish market, and in Narahenpita.

Meanwhile, the public car park constructed in Colombo -02 by the private sector was vested with the public under the patronage of Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. 

The car park was built by the private firm Access Engineering at a cost of Rs. 1400 million, while ownership of the car park will be transferred to the UDA after a period of 30 years.

The eight-story car park has the capacity to park 300 vehicles. As per the agreement, the UDA will receive 20% of the car park’s monthly income. (NewsWire)

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