The Sri Lanka Bar Association stated before the Supreme Court that it is important to issue a series of guidelines related to the granting of presidential pardon to persons convicted by the court. Sri Lanka Latest News
The Sri Lanka Bar Association filed fundamental rights case jointly with women’s media organizations were taken for re-hearing today (20) demanding the annulment of former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to release Jude Shramanta Jayamaha, who was sentenced to death in connection with the Royal Park murder case. President’s counsel Mr. Saliya Peiris made this observation.
The hearing was held before the three-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Messrs. S. Thureiraja, Yasanta Kodagoda and Janak de Silva.
There, the President’s counsel Mr. Saliya Peiris presented the facts before the court and said that the power assigned to the President under the Constitution to grant amnesty to the guilty cannot be debated.
However, the president’s attorney stated that the power should be implemented in accordance with the existing legal provisions and requested the court to issue a series of guidelines to avoid the inequities that may arise in the use of that power by the presidents.
President’s counsel Mr. Faizer Mustapha, who appeared for former President Maithripala Sirisena, presenting facts before the court.
When asked about the file that has been presented before the court in relation to the granting of presidential pardon to the accused, he said that the office had informed his client that it was not available in the office of the president.
He said that a request has been made to the Ministry of Justice under the Freedom of Information Act to provide information regarding the file.
After that, the hearing of petitions further was adjourned till July 13, and on that day, President’s Counsel Faizer Mustapha is to present further matters on behalf of former President Maithripala Sirisena.
