Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has made a special appeal to the President to grant a pardon to the individuals sentenced to death over the killing of former Parliamentarian Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer.
Speaking at a special media briefing held in Colombo, Fonseka urged that clemency be granted to the young men who were handed the death penalty in connection with the incident.
He said that exempting such individuals from capital punishment could be carried out by the President with a single signature.
“Grant a pardon to the youths who were sentenced to death over the Amarakeerthi killing. Releasing such individuals from the death penalty is something the President should do with one stroke of the pen,” he said.
Last week a three-judge bench of the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar sentenced 12 individuals to death after finding them guilty over the killing of Athukorala, a former Parliamentarian of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, and his security officer. (Newswire)
