June 08, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankan authorities have launched a deeper investigation into the circumstances surrounding the release of several inmates under a Presidential pardon granted during the recent Vesak celebrations, after signs emerged that the process may have been mishandled.
The Police Media Division confirmed that a formal statement has been obtained from the Commissioner General of Prisons, as questions grow over whether the release of certain prisoners adhered to the established legal protocols.
Initial findings suggest that not all individuals released were included in the official list authorised by the Presidential Secretariat. The controversy intensified following the emergence of a specific case involving W. M. Athula Tilakaratne, a former branch manager of a finance firm in Anuradhapura, who had been convicted of misappropriating Rs. 4 million.
His release triggered immediate scrutiny, as records show his name did not appear on the final list of 388 inmates approved for a Presidential pardon.
In a strongly worded statement issued yesterday, the Presidential Secretariat distanced itself from the decision, asserting that Tilakaratne was not amongst those sanctioned by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for release on May 06, 2025.
Under Article 34(1) of the Constitution, the power to grant pardons lies with the President, but this authority is exercised only after a detailed, multi-step review. The procedure requires that prison officials propose eligible inmates, after which the Ministry of Justice examines the recommendations before passing them on to the Presidential Secretariat for final vetting and approval.
