DORIPeopleCasesUpdatesMethodologyMap

PersonOn bail

Ramanathan Archchuna

Listed from published reports. Appearing here is not a finding of wrongdoing. The custody or bail mark follows the dated status line below and may be out of date.

See on the map

Details

Role

Independent Member of Parliament for Jaffna District, elected November 2024; medical doctor

Status

Seat challenged in the Court of Appeal, with arguments fixed for 16 December 2026; bailed in a firearm case in April 2026; no verdict reported in any case

Appears on

Politicians and investigators

Last checked

12 Oct 2026 (what this means)

Connections (12)

• Ramanathan Archchuna / Won a Jaffna District seat at / General election, November 2024
  • The Jaffna District results list him, as Ramanathan Archuna, first for the group IND17-10 with 20,487 preferential votes.15 Nov 2024 · Ada Derana · Jaffna District preferential vote results released
  • Describes him on 21 November 2024 as the Jaffna District Independent MP.21 Nov 2024 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Independent MP refuses to vacate Opposition Leader’s seat
• Ramanathan Archchuna / Sat in the Opposition Leader’s seat meant for, November 2024 / Sajith Premadasa
  • He refused requests by Parliament staff to move from the Opposition Leader’s seat, saying tradition was being changed. Premadasa, who had been named Opposition Leader, sat at the corner of the front row. Parliament sources said no action could be taken because MPs were allowed to sit wherever they wanted.21 Nov 2024 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Independent MP refuses to vacate Opposition Leader’s seat
• Sajith Premadasa / Raised in Parliament the privileges of, July 2026 / Ramanathan Archchuna
  • After a warrant was issued while Archchuna was reportedly attending a sitting, Premadasa told Parliament the MP’s privileges had been violated and urged the Speaker to decide on the matter at once.24 Jul 2026 · Newswire · Archchuna misses court to attend Parliament; arrest warrant sparks privilege row
• Jagath Wickramaratne / Barred live broadcast of statements by, March 2025 / Ramanathan Archchuna
  • The Speaker banned his statements from being live-streamed for the next eight sittings from 20 March 2025 and said they would be removed from Hansard. He said the MP had used unparliamentary language against MPs, women and religious persons, and had not changed his behaviour despite several warnings. The article carries no response from the MP.19 Mar 2025 · Newswire · Speaker announces action against MP Archchuna Ramanathan
• Ramanathan Archchuna / Removed from the chamber of, May 2025 / Parliament of Sri Lanka
  • Removed from the chamber on 8 May 2025 for disrupting a debate on amendments to the Customs Ordinance, after repeated warnings from the presiding member.8 May 2025 · Newswire · Archchuna removed from Parliament Chambers
• Bimal Rathnayake / Condemned disruptions by, May 2025 / Ramanathan Archchuna
  • As Leader of the House he strongly condemned Archchuna for repeatedly disrupting proceedings and interrupting his allotted speaking time.8 May 2025 · Newswire · Archchuna removed from Parliament Chambers
• Ramanathan Archchuna / Seat challenged in / Court of Appeal challenge to Archchuna’s seatAllegation
  • On 26 June 2025 the petitioner’s counsel argued that he remained a public officer and that his seat had become vacant. The Additional Solicitor General, for the State, confirmed that he was still considered a public officer and was under interdiction.26 Jun 2025 · Newswire · AG's position not in Archchuna’s favour in MP eligibility case
  • On 31 August 2026 his counsel asked the Court of Appeal to refer the matter to the Supreme Court; the court said it would rule on that request at an appropriate time.31 Aug 2026 · Newswire · Court of Appeal hears petition on Archchuna Ramanathan’s parliamentary seat
  • On 12 October 2026 the court postponed arguments to 16 December 2026 because the bench was not properly constituted, and was told he intended to retain new counsel. His lawyers have argued that he had been interdicted without pay and so should not count as a public officer. The court has given no final ruling.12 Oct 2026 · Newswire · MP Archchuna gets more time in Parliament as legal battle delayed
• Ramanathan Archchuna / Accused in; warrant issued and recalled, November 2024 / Baseline Road accident caseAllegation
  • The Colombo Magistrate’s Court issued a warrant on 26 November 2024 after he failed to appear. He is accused of being involved in a road accident on Baseline Road in 2021 and of assaulting another motorist, seriously injuring him.26 Nov 2024 · Newswire · Warrant issued for Jaffna MP Archchuna Ramanathan
  • The warrant was recalled on 28 November 2024. Through his lawyers he said he had been at a Parliament-related activity and had forgotten the hearing date. The case was filed by the Grandpass Police.28 Nov 2024 · Newswire · Court recalls warrant against MP Archchuna Ramanathan
• Ramanathan Archchuna / Arrested and bailed over, January 2025 / Rambewa traffic police caseAllegation
  • Police arrested him in Jaffna on 29 January 2025. He is accused of obstructing police duties in the Rambewa area; a video showed a heated exchange after traffic police stopped him for using unauthorised VIP lights.29 Jan 2025 · Newswire · Jaffna MP Archchuna arrested
  • The Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court released him on bail the same day.29 Jan 2025 · Newswire · MP Archchuna granted bail
• Ramanathan Archchuna / Arrested and bailed over, September 2025 / Fort police obstruction caseAllegation
  • Arrested on 29 September 2025 and released the same day by the Fort Magistrate’s Court on two sureties of Rs. 1 million each. A senior police official said he parked in a prohibited area outside Fort Railway Station on 22 September, verbally threatened a traffic officer, refused to show his licence and drove off. The article carries no response from him.29 Sep 2025 · Newswire · Court grants bail to Archchuna after charged with 4 offences
  • The Fort Magistrate’s Court issued a warrant on 23 December 2025 when he failed to appear in the case, and he was arrested the next day after surrendering to the Fort Police.24 Dec 2025 · Ada Derana · MP Ramanathan Archchuna surrenders to police
  • The same court issued another warrant on 24 July 2026 after he failed to appear; he was reportedly attending a sitting of Parliament at the time.24 Jul 2026 · Newswire · Archchuna misses court to attend Parliament; arrest warrant sparks privilege row
  • On 27 July 2026 he submitted a motion and appeared before the court through a lawyer.27 Jul 2026 · Ada Derana · MP Ramanathan Archchuna appears in court after warrant issued
• Ramanathan Archchuna / Arrested, remanded and bailed over, April 2026 / Periyavilan land dispute firearm caseAllegation
  • Ilavalai Police arrested him on 27 April 2026 over allegations of criminal intimidation by brandishing a firearm and of criminal trespass. According to police, he threatened a woman on 25 April in Periyavilan during a dispute over land whose ownership is before a magistrate’s court.27 Apr 2026 · Ada Derana · MP Ramanathan Archchuna arrested
  • In a Facebook video before his arrest he said a group had entered the property and thrown stones at him, that he used a personal firearm provided by the defence ministry to defend himself, and that he had no intention of harming anyone.26 Apr 2026 · Newswire · MP Archchuna issues clarification after viral video of altercation while holding firearm
  • The Mallakam Magistrate’s Court released him on two surety bails, as reported on 29 April 2026.29 Apr 2026 · Ada Derana · MP Ramanathan Archchuna granted bail
• Ramanathan Archchuna / Says he sent corruption complaints to / Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or CorruptionAllegation
  • He told Parliament in July 2026 that he had sent complaints and documents about alleged corruption in the North to the commission, to President Dissanayake and to Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, and that no investigation had begun. He also said he might leave Parliament within two or three weeks. The article carries no response from them.21 Jul 2026 · Newswire · Archchuna says he may leave Parliament within weeks