In what is called a historical judicial order, the Supreme Court today issued an Interim Order suspending the operation of the Presidential Pardon granted by the President to former parliamentarian Duminda Silva. This order will be effective until the final determination of Fundamental Rights petitions filed against his release.
The Supreme Court also issued an Interim Order directing the CID to place Duminda Silva under the custody of prisons with immediate effect.
The Supreme Court directed the Attorney General to assist the CID, to implement the interim order while reporting on the progress to the Court. The Court also issued an Interim Order impounding Duminda Silva’s passport.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, and Justice Achala Wengappuli made this order pursuant to three Fundamental Rights petitions filed questioning the legality of the Presidential Pardon granted to former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva.
The Supreme Court granted leave to proceed with three Fundamental Rights petitions in terms of Article 12(1) of the constitution.
The court also fixed the petitions to be taken up for argument on September 1.
The Supreme Court further issued an interim order to examine records and documents relating to the presidential pardon granted to Duminda Silva.
Former Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra, her mother Sumana Premachandra and former Commissioner of Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Ghazali Hussain had filed these petitions seeking a declaration that the presidential pardon of Duminda Silva is invalid in law.
The petitioners are seeking a declaration that their Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Articles 10, 11, 12 and 12(1) of the Constitution have been violated by the respondents.
The Petitioners state that on or about the 24th of June, 2021 it was widely published in the media that Duminda Silva had received a presidential pardon. The Petitioner states that they verily believe that the other convicts in the said case are still serving their sentences.
They further said to the best of their knowledge the President has not explained and set out the basis of the said pardon.
They further alleged that the President has not explained the procedure for the said pardon in terms of Article 34.
The petitioners maintained that any pardon to be granted under Article 34 of the Constitution should be made after a careful analysis of the necessity to grant such a pardon as stipulated in the proviso to Article 34 (1) of the Constitution.
On September 8, 2016, five accused, including former Defence Ministry Monitoring MP Duminda Silva, were sentenced to death by Colombo High Court for committing the murder of four persons, including former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, on or around October 8, 2011.
On October 11, 2018, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by then Chief Justice Priyasath Dep unanimously decided to dismiss appeal petitions filed by former MP Duminda Silva and two others, challenging the judgment of the Colombo High Court that found them guilty of conspiring to murder four persons including former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.
M.A. Sumanthiran PC, Jeffry Alagaratnam PC appeared for Hirunika Premachandra and Ghazali Hussain. Attorney-at-law Eraj De Silva with Daminda Wijerathne and Sundramoorthy Janagan under the instructions of Attorney-at-law Dimuthu Kuruppuarachchi appeared for Sumana Premachandra.
Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appeared for the Attorney General. President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana with Navin Marapana PC appeared for Duminda Silva.
K. Kanag Iswaran PC instructed by Senior Counsel G.G. Arulpragasam appeared for the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, a respondent party to the petitions
