Sri Lanka, Jan. 15 -- The Police' Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) yesterday arrested film star-politician and former Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake following weeks of controversy and uproar over the many secret recordings of telephone conversations the popular cinema personality has had with numerous politicians, judges, top police investigators, bureaucrats and other prominent personalities. The exposing of various conversations Ramanayaka has had with judges involved in some key criminal prosecutions prompted calls for prosecution of the actor-turned-politician for supposedly trying to influence court cases and being in contempt of court.

The Gangodawila Magistrate yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of Ramanayake based on the f...