Jan 12, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court today sentenced former state minister and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake for 04 years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him of contempt of court.

The sentence was given when the case against the MP was taken up by the Supreme Court today (12).

The case was heard before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Sisira Abrew, Vijith Malalgoda and Preethi Padman Surasena.

The Attorney General filed the case against the former Minister following a complaint filed in the Supreme Court by Ven. Magalkande Sudantha Thero and retired Air Force officer Sunil Perera.

Speaking to the media after a discussion with the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees on August 21, 2017, Ranjan Ramanayake had allegedly said that the majority of judges and lawyers in the country were corrupt.

The complaint further states that Mr. Ranjan Ramanayake has insulted the judiciary by undermining the public's trust in the judiciary.

Accordingly, the petitioner has requested the Supreme Court to hold a trial against him for contempt of court and impose appropriate punishment.