According to the presidential pardon granted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to former Member of Parliament Mr. Ranjan Ramanayake, he cannot stand for election until 7 years have passed.
“Ranjan Ramanayake has been pardoned by President Ranil Wickremesinghe under Article 34 (1) which is a conditional pardon and he must be pardoned under Article 34 (2) of the Constitution to get a full presidential pardon with political rights,” a Justice Ministry official told the media. have said
Mr. Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the opposition, attended a press conference with Mr. Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday afternoon and asked President Ranil Wickramasinghe to grant Mr. Ranjan Ramanayake a full presidential pardon with political rights.
The opposition leader said that the President and the government should grant Mr. Ranjan Ramanayake a full presidential pardon that includes his civic and political rights.
According to Sri Lankan law, a person imprisoned for more than two years loses his political and civil rights for 7 years unless he receives a full presidential pardon.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had previously granted a full presidential pardon to SB Dissanayake and Sarath Fonseka while they were in prison and gave them the opportunity to run for election immediately after their release.
