Presidential pardon for prisoners marred by oversights, corruption

• The President’s Media Division (PMD) announced that the CID investigation would be conducted how it happened without his authorization. He denied his involvement in authorizing this particular pardon

 Serious lapses and possible corruption involved in securing presidential pardons for prisoners has surfaced with the latest controversy surrounding the release of prisoner W.H. Athula Tilakaratne in view of Vesak.  

The list of prisoners, identified to be released, is prepared by the Department of Prisons first and sent to the Justice Ministry. Next the list of prisoners identified the numbers assigned to them, is sent to the Presidential Secretariat for perusal after authorization. Afterwards, it is referred back to the Justice Ministry which relays it back to the prison authorities for action through the regional prison authorities for the release of identified prisoners.  

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ajith P. Perera who raised the matter first in Parliament asked how any of these authorities could not detect the inclusion of a prisoner who was not eligible for presidential pardon.  

He also asked how such an oversight could happen.   

After MP Perera raised the matter in Parliament, it set the stage for another controversy with many , on social media platforms , questioning integrity of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who gave an pre-election promise not to pardon those convicted of criminal offences.  

The President’s Media Division (PMD) announced that the CID investigation would be conducted how it happened without his authorization. He denied his involvement in authorizing this particular pardon.   Meanwhile, the CID investigations into allegations that several inmates were released illegally during the 2025 Vesak period, has revealed that a certain number of inmates were illegally released under the guise of the Presidential Pardon for Vesak this year.