Former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga on Thursday (11) formally withdrew his appeal before the Court of Appeal, which sought to overturn his suspended prison sentence and Rs. 25 million fine imposed by the Colombo High Court in connection with an extortion case, dating back to 2015.

The appeal, filed to challenge the High Court’s 2022 judgment, was taken up before a five-judge bench of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Mayadunne Corea (presiding), S. Kumaran Ratnam, Shashi Mahendran, Damith Thotawatta, and Amal Ranaraja.

Counsel appearing on behalf of Ranatunga informed the court of the decision to withdraw the petition, and the bench granted leave accordingly. With the withdrawal, the original conviction, suspended prison sentence, and financial penalty remain in effect.

Ranatunga, who currently serves as a Member of Parliament, was convicted by the Colombo High Court, in 2022, on one of 15 counts in an indictment that alleged he threatened a businessman and demanded Rs. 64 million to evict unauthorised occupants from a land in Meethotamulla, Kolonnawa, and to facilitate its refilling. The incident occurred during his tenure as Chief Minister of the Western Province.

He was found guilty of Count 13 under Section 373 of the Penal Code, relating to extortion, for dishonestly attempting to obtain promissory notes after making threats. The High Court sentenced him to two years of rigorous imprisonment, suspended for five years, and imposed a fine of Rs. 25 million.

The Court of Appeal had earlier granted Ranatunga permission to pay the fine in installments, citing practical considerations. With Thursday’s withdrawal, that arrangement will continue, and the former Minister is expected to comply fully with the terms of the judgment.

By withdrawing the appeal, Ranatunga effectively ends legal proceedings aimed at overturning the conviction. While the sentence is suspended—meaning he does not face immediate incarceration unless another offence is committed during the suspension period—the conviction remains a notable mark on his political and legal record.

By A.J.A. Abeynayake ✍️