Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to make public the list of persons who had been granted Presidential Pardons in view of the Vesak Festival.
In a post on ‘X’, MP Premadasa said that the President, who promised transparency, must publish the full list in Parliament and audit the process.
“388 Vesak pardons were cleared; yet a fraudster not on the list walked out. The President, who promised transparency, signed the order, so in the interest of transparency and system change, the President should not just pass the buck, but publish the full list in Parliament & audit the process,” MP Premadasa said.
The Opposition Leader’s comments come after it was found that convicted banker W. M. Athula Tilakaratne’s release from the Anuradhapura Prison under the 2025 Vesak Day Presidential Pardon was unauthorised.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara yesterday revealed that Tilakaratne’s name was not on the official list of 388 inmates approved for pardon by the President, nor was it supported by court documentation.
The unauthorised release led to the arrest of the Deputy Commissioner of Anuradhapura Prison by the CID. He remains in remand custody.
Meanwhile, during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, it was decided to place the Prisons Chief on compulsory leave, launch a preliminary investigation, and take disciplinary action based on the findings.
As such, Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya was sent on compulsory leave and was later arrested by the CID. (Newswire)