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President orders SB`s release
Thursday, 16 February 2006 - 1:42 AM SL Time
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President Mahinda Rajapakse following requests made by the Maha Sangha headed by Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera has reduced the jail sentence of former Minister S.B. Dissanayake facilitating his immediate release.
Accordingly, Dissanayake (Prisoner Number H 21569) will be released from the Welikada Magazine prison.
A press release issued by the President`s Office stated that President Rajapakse has conveyed his decision to Justice and Judicial Reforms Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda yesterday to take immediate action to release S.B. Dissanayake.
President Rajapakse had reduced the sentence of S.B. Dissanayake under the powers vested in him by the Constitution.
Former UNP Parliamentarian and former Minister S.B. Dissanayake was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for Contempt of Court, by a five Judge Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva following a unanimous verdict on December 7, 2004. Dissanayake was sentenced for defaming the Supreme Court during a speech he made at a Vap Magul ceremony held in Habaraduwa in November 2003.
Colombo district MP Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera told the media yesterday that Dissanayake would arrive on Friday afternoon at the Viharamahadevi Park where his supporters are engaged in a Satyragraha campaign demanding his immediate release.
The press release stated that the President has taken this decision specially following a request made by the Maha Sangha from the President after visiting him at Temple Trees on Tuesday.
The press release also stated that Viharadhipathi of the Bellanwila Raja Maha Vihara Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera too made a written request from the President after visiting him at Temple Trees.
However, there was no immediate confirmation whether Dissanayake would be able to fully exercise his civic rights though his sentence was reduced. Dissanayake who was elected to the present Parliament lost his Parliamentary seat as the Supreme Court dismissed a writ application filed by him preventing the Parliamentary Secretary General from cancelling his Parliamentary seat.
Senior UNP Parliamentarian Renuka Herath was appointed to the vacant seat.
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Source(s)
• Daily News
• Ranil Wijayapala
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PachchaSira
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 15 Feb 2006 20:29:35 GMT Report for Abuse
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Mistake... Mistake... Big Mistake...
Now every dirty politician will think, We can do any thing and President will pardon us. |
tamilcanuck
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15 Feb 2006 20:33:05 GMT Report for Abuse
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Let the UNP SLFP/JVP battle start.
this space should be interesting to watch.
since this fellow cannot hold political office tamils have no use for him. |
Helaya
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 15 Feb 2006 20:34:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Anyhow he is a talented man. But Mahinda is too late to get credit for releasing him. |
DrAkai
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 15 Feb 2006 21:20:30 GMT Report for Abuse
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Releasing SB is not a great event and he was sent to prison in contempt of court rather than any form of corruption during his tenure as a minister. This release is not a huge victory or defeat for any party as it was a ludicrous imprisonment with all the facilities for him due to his status in the politics.
The real fight is whether the UNP can capitalise on his release to make an impact on the SLFP/JVP coalition. |
nandalal
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 15 Feb 2006 21:39:20 GMT Report for Abuse
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Perhaps MR has the intention of sending SB to Switzerland to take part in the peace talks with the ltte.
Or, has MR thought of 'fishing' SB to his party by offering him an important portfolio???
Both are good negotiators so the outcome may be interesting!
Edited By - nandalal - 15 Feb 2006 21:41:40 GMT |
Fairplay
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15 Feb 2006 22:10:55 GMT Report for Abuse
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PRE- EMPTIVE MOVE, TAKING CREDIT ON THE BACK OF S.B's
GOOD CONDUCT IN THE JAIL!!
Mahinda hailed for S.B's Toil!!!
Quote
http://www.independentsl.com/cgi-bin/newsscript1.cgi?record=298
SB To Be Freed Next Month
The UNP firebrand S. B Dissanayake will be freed on March 27th due to his positive conduct in jail, according to reliable sources from Wellikade jail. Sources confirm than any prisoner can be freed after completion of 2/3 of jail time if the prisoner has a positive conduct in the jail.
According to regulations, SB Dissanayake was to be freed on April 10th. However, fourteen days had been reduced from his prison time due to reduced time from 2005 and 2006 independent days where prisoners are granted seven days reduction from the prison time from each independent day.
Unquote
Fairplay
Edited By - Fairplay - 15 Feb 2006 22:16:08 GMT |
tamilcanuck
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15 Feb 2006 22:44:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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Hey EPDP fool,
my only comment was whether SB can run for office and if he could, give him a luxury car, trot over to the SLFP and work towards that 2/3 majority.
ofcourse its hard for you to think beyond the next hr! |
podda
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15 Feb 2006 23:07:00 GMT Report for Abuse
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| JR had said the biggest mistake he had done was releasing JVP leaders once he became the president, same as Mahinda also may tell the same about releasing SB. This chap actually did not serve his sentence, most of the time he was in hospitals for fake medical problems. he is a corrupted politician and should be jailed for ever.. |
Gaja
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 15 Feb 2006 23:16:29 GMT Report for Abuse
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The President has to do more to restore the dignity of the person who exercised his powers genuinely. I find it difficult to appreciate how we can have two years in prison for contempt of court in a democratic system.
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam from Australia |
sanathds
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 16 Feb 2006 00:13:43 GMT Report for Abuse
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By any means he was a political prisoner.
the charges against contempt of courts can not be appreciated against this guy as there are lot big wigs of SLFP like Mongal who did more damage to courts at times.
I believe MR is too slow to act to get a credit on this issue. it sounds like he succumbed to the 'pressure from the general public' |
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