<p>Ranatunga, an MP from the opposition Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party of Fonseka, and two more colleagues -- Vijitha Herath and Ajith Kumara -- were charged with assaulting police and being members of an unlawful gathering.<br /><br />They had been arrested in Galle in August last year while attending a demonstration calling for the release from custody of their leader Fonseka and were later released on bail.<br /><br />"We were freed due to lack of evidence. The government framed us for political reasons," Ranatunga said after he was cleared of the charges by a court in the southern port town of Galle.<br /><br />Ranatunga's family members are ardent supporters of the ruling party, but he broke away from President Mahinda Rajapaksa's alliance and supported Fonseka.</p>
<p>Ranatunga, an MP from the opposition Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party of Fonseka, and two more colleagues -- Vijitha Herath and Ajith Kumara -- were charged with assaulting police and being members of an unlawful gathering.<br /><br />They had been arrested in Galle in August last year while attending a demonstration calling for the release from custody of their leader Fonseka and were later released on bail.<br /><br />"We were freed due to lack of evidence. The government framed us for political reasons," Ranatunga said after he was cleared of the charges by a court in the southern port town of Galle.<br /><br />Ranatunga's family members are ardent supporters of the ruling party, but he broke away from President Mahinda Rajapaksa's alliance and supported Fonseka.</p>