Ajith Prasanna sentenced to six months in second case

The Court of Appeal yesterday (8) sentenced retired Army Major and attorney Ajith Prasanna, who pleaded guilty to Contempt of Court by making critical statements on several YouTube channels regarding several orders given by the Magistrate Courts to six months imprisonment. The Court of Appeal ordered the  execution of Ajith Prasanna’s prison sentence after the completion of his four-year rigorous imprisonment for Contempt of Court. Prasanna was previously convicted by the Supreme Court for contempt of court based on a statement he made in a television program and was sentenced to four years in prison.

This order was given by the Bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Nishanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice. M.A.R. Marikkar.

Presiding Judge Nishanka Bandula Karunaratne strongly warned respondent Ajith Prasanna to refrain from statements criticising the court again since the day he was released from prison.

The Attorney General had presented two charge sheets to Ajith Prasanna, accusing him of insulting the court by criticizing several orders given by the Magistrate Courts on December 6 and 8, 2019.

Ajith Prasanna pleaded guilty to the charges by giving an affidavit to court that he would not make statements that would insult the court in the future. After considering that pledge and other matters, the Bench decided to convict Ajith Prasanna on the two charges of Contempt of Court.

Accordingly, the bench decided to impose a prison sentence of 12 months on one charge and 6 months on the two charges and stipulated that the prison sentence should be completed in 6 months.

He is currently serving a prison sentence and the prison officials presented him to the court yesterday (8) through Zoom technology.