Statement from MP Harin Fernando
I went to Welikada Prison today to visit My dear friend, loving comrade Ranjan Ramanayake. I have to emphasize that Ranjan is as brave as ever, despite the harsh, tough experiences inside the prison. Ranjan is sent to prison with a serious punishment for for mistakenly uttering just one-word.
When the accused of the tragedy of the Easter attack, which happened very recently, are scot-free, when fraudsters who defrauded millions and billions of money through the sugar-import scandal are free, when the people who decided to give innocent farmers feces instead of fertilizer and who compensated for those feces with monies worth hundreds of millions are enjoying their freedom, Ranjan is languishing in jail for mistakenly uttering one-word.
Today is the blessed day of Christmas. The birthday of a messenger who came to this world with the message of peace in the words of love.
In fact, Ranjan had a few requests for me.
- Ranjan wished all Christians, Catholics and Sri Lankans a merry Christmas.
- Ranjan very emotionally said that he wants to pursue higher studies, and that he is expecting permission to fulfill his ambitions.
- He also said that he is grateful to all those who are struggling for his freedom, and to those who support his release in silence.
I vouch that we will fight intensely for Ranjan’s release. 2022 will be dedicated for that.
Also, I told Ranjan that when he is released, I will not hesitate to resign from my parliamentary seat through the national list, as a sacrifice for his reentry to the parliament.
The Bible says that “a good man sows the good in his heart, and a bad man sows the bad in his heart”.
We have a request for the public of this country, who value justice and equity. Uttering the word “Judge” has put Ranjan behind bars for four years.
Is the punishment justified for the so-called “big crime”? Listen to your conscience.
This is my plea to God Almighty on this blessed Christmas Day.
“O Lord, show mercy on the people who have unknowingly committed wrongs!”