Pardoning of the Royal Park Murder accused; SC reserves the judgement

The Supreme Court today concluded hearing and reserved its judgement in the Fundamental Rights petition filed challenging former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant Presidential Pardon to Royal Park murder convict Don. Shamantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha. Accordingly, the Supreme Court will deliver its judgement regarding this petition in due course. The Supreme Court's three-judge bench, comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Yasantha Kodagoda, and Janak de Silva, concluded the arguments put forward by both petitioner and respondent parties. The parties were directed to file their written submissions before August 25. The Women & Media Collective organisation had filed this Fundamental Rights petition challenging the legality of former President Sirisena’s decision to grant presidential Pardon to a Royal Park murder convict. The Women & Media Collective organisation filed this Fundamental Rights petition naming Attorney General Don. Shamantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha, Commissioner General of Prisons, Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, Inspector General of Police, Justice Minister, and President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka as respondents. The petitioners are further seeking an order to issue guidelines governing the grant of Presidential Pardon by the Head of State in terms of Article 34 (1) of the Constitution. Jude Anthony Jayamaha was indicted before the High Court by the Attorney-General for committing the murder of Yvonne Jonsson (who was 19 years of age at the time) on or about July 1, 2005, in terms of Section 294 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 296 of the Penal Code.