Sri Lanka Police says a probe by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has found that 68 prisoners had been unlawfully released under previous presidential pardons.
Addressing the media yesterday, DIG Ruwan Gunasekera said that 57 inmates were released for Christmas last year and 11 inmates for Independence Day this year.
“As soon as the unauthorised release of the convicted banker started making rounds, the CID launched a probe into the matter. The investigations found that 57 prisoners had been released on Christmas Day last year, and 11 on Independence Day this year. The CID appointed a committee to further probe these incidents,” he said.
DIG Ruwan Gunasekera said that the suspended Prisons Commissioner General, Thushara Upuldeniya, was aware of the investigations and appointment of the committee.
“Amidst this, Thushara Upuldeniya had sent a letter to the Justice Ministry informing that the release of the convicted banker was normal and justified. Instead of verifying whether the prisoner’s name was on the list authorised by the President, he sent a justification to the Justice Ministry. The CID conducted further probes into the matter and took him into custody,” he said.
DIG Ruwan Gunasekera made the remarks to provide a clarification on the ongoing Police investigations, due to the various comments being made by various persons on the matter.
Suspended Prisons Commissioner General, Thushara Upuldeniya, and the Superintendent of the Anuradhapura Prison were arrested and remanded 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 also confirmed 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.
DIG Ruwan Gunasekera said that further investigations are ongoing in the unauthorised releases under the Presidential Pardon system. (Newswire)