Ramanathan Archuna, Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaffna, surrendered to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (28), leading to the withdrawal of a warrant that had been issued for his arrest. The warrant was initially ordered due to his failure to appear in court regarding a 2021 assault case linked to a road accident on Baseline Road.
The MP, through his legal counsel, explained his absence during the court session on November 26. His lawyer stated that Archuna had been attending a parliamentary meeting on that day and submitted an official letter as evidence. The counsel further clarified that the absence was also due to the lawyer handling the case being out of the country, which led to confusion over the court date.
Taking these explanations into account, Colombo Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake accepted the request and withdrew the arrest warrant. The case has been rescheduled to be heard on March 4, 2024.
The incident dates back to 2021 when Archuna was accused of assaulting a man following a car accident on Baseline Road. The case has garnered public attention, particularly in light of Archuna’s recent actions in Parliament.
During the first session of the new Parliament on November 21, the MP made headlines by refusing to vacate the Opposition Leader’s seat. The standoff, which he streamed live on Facebook, sparked widespread discussions about his conduct.
The court case is expected to continue in March, while Archuna remains under public scrutiny for both his legal issues and his controversial parliamentary behavior.
