A revived court report, a suspended prison sentence, and allegations of media suppression converge to reignite controversy around an NPP parliamentarian, raising serious questions about accountability, law enforcement, and press freedom in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam has stated that National People’s Power MP Shantha Padmakumara remains a convicted individual under Sri Lankan law and is still subject to a suspended prison sentence. Speaking at a media briefing held at the party headquarters, he stressed that the sentence imposed by court has not lapsed and remains legally valid.
According to case records from the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court, legal proceedings were instituted against three defendants, including MP Shantha Padmakumara. The court found him guilty of obstructing the official duties of a school principal in Embilipitiya and attempting to assault the official during the incident.
Following the conviction, the magistrate sentenced the MP to three months of imprisonment. However, the court decided to suspend the prison sentence for a period of five years. In addition to the suspended sentence, the MP was also ordered to pay compensation amounting to Rs. 20,000.
Although Shantha Padmakumara initially filed an appeal against the judgment, he later withdrew the appeal on August 3, 2021. As a result, Sagara Kariyawasam pointed out that the suspended sentence remains effective for five years from that date, meaning it will continue until August 3, 2026.
He further emphasized that any violation of the law during this period would automatically result in the enforcement of the three month prison sentence.
Addressing another controversy involving the MP, Mr. Kariyawasam referred to allegations linked to an incident where a police constable was assaulted during a raid on a cannabis plantation allegedly connected to the MP. He noted that the assaulted officer has since been suspended, raising further concerns.
He also condemned attempts to restrict the Hiru television channel for reporting on the incident, describing the move as unprecedented and a serious threat to media freedom aimed at shielding a convicted criminal.
