He was ordered to be released on two sureties amounting to Rs. 100,000 each.
Dhammike, brother of Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, faced charges of intimidating journalists. The journalists were at the Colombo High Court on on March 16 to cover the bail application of former CEO of CSN television channel Nishantha Ranatunga.
Dhammika Ranatunga had threatened several journalists who had recorded video footage him and had even captured the faces the journalists present using his mobile phone.
Taking up the case, the magistrate had advised Dhammika to preserve the dignity of his brother, who had appointed Dhammika as the SLPA chairman.
The magistrate ordered to hand over the mobile phone allegedly used to capture the faces the journalists, to the police.
The case is to be taken up again on July 28.