By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana
An actor is behind bars because of his untamed tongue and as our Editor pointed out with a touch of sarcasm: “Going to jail is a heroic deed only in the celluloid world” (‘Ranjan behind bars’;
The Island, 14 January). However, the drama unfolding following that episode in the Diyawanna Chamber beggar’s belief! Some of our lawmakers do not seem to understand how the laws they enact are translated into action by the judiciary. The actor committed contempt of court and received a four-year sentence by the Supreme Court, the highest in the land, precluding any reversal by an appeal. The only escape route apparently is a Presidential pardon, a matter that is supposed to have been discussed by the puppet with the master puppeteer, just in jest it is claimed!