68 more inmates illegally freed under Presidential Pardon - ASG Peeris

By Bhagya Silva

A total of 68 more inmates were illegally released under the guise of a Presidential Pardon during Christmas in 2024 and on Independence Day this year, despite not meeting the required criteria, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Dileepa Peeris informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday.  

According to ASG Peeris, 57 prisoners were wrongfully released during the 2024 Christmas and 11 more during the 2025 Independence Day.  

ASG Peeris made these submissions as the interdicted Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Nishantha Upuldeniya, was produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake. He is accused of presenting forged documents indicating that certain inmates had received presidential pardons.  

He further noted that during the Vesak Poya, 338 inmates were released from 29 prisons across the country, and at least two of them were freed illegally.  

Urges judiciary to support the AG’s Department and investigating officers in dismantling what he described as rogue networks undermining the rule of law

ASG Peeris further told court that these findings reflect a deeper, systematic failure within the prison and law enforcement structures, warning that illegal practices and misuse of authority have begun to take root. He urged the judiciary to support the Attorney General’s Department and investigating officers in dismantling what he described as rogue networks undermining the rule of law.  

He also called for a separate, comprehensive investigation into the assets and financial declarations of all senior prison officers and administrators island-wide, citing the growing need to uncover possible corruption within the system.  

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) launched its inquiry following a written complaint by the Senior Additional Secretary to the President on June 6. The next day, it was discovered that Athula Tilakaratne, a prisoner held at Anuradhapura Prison, had been unlawfully released under the alleged pardon. Another inmate from the same prison was also found to have been freed through similar irregular means.  

The suspect was subsequently ordered to be remanded till June 11 by the Additional Magistrate.