The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) questioned the Commissioner General of Prisons for five hours regarding the release of an inmate from the Anuradhapura Prison, who was freed claiming to have received a presidential pardon, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said.

Speaking to the media today (8), Minister Wijepala stated that the CID has launched a special investigation into the matter, adding that the Commissioner General has been summoned again for further questioning.

He also noted that information have emerged regarding the release of inmates under the guise of a presidential pardon in early occasions, and such incidents are now being thoroughly investigated.

The recent controversy surrounding the release of a financial fraud convict from Anuradhapura Prison under the Presidential Pardon for Vesak Poya Day has revealed a serious irregularity: the convict’s name was not included in the official list of pardoned prisoners approved by the President, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

Amid widespread public outrage, the PMD stated that the Presidential Secretariat has launched an inquiry after reports emerged that the individual named Athula Thilakarathna was released under the 2025 Vesak Presidential pardon without proper authorization.