President’s Counsel Tirantha Walaliyadde says the pardon granted to former MP Ranjan Ramanayake by President Ranil Wickremesinghe is illegal owing to the fact it is based on at least two known conditions that violate Ramanayake’s fundamental rights as a citizen.

“In his affidavit to the courts, Ramanayake has said he would not make statements critical or derogatory in nature about the courts in the future. This should not have been included in the affidavit. He, himself has curtailed his fundamental rights.” he said.

Walaliyadde also noted that a person's freedom of speech can not be curtailed or taken away through a Presidential pardon. He pointed out that the official document granting the pardon has not been made public, thereby concealing the conditions under which the pardon was granted to Ramanayake.

“No one knows what these conditions are but they must be legal. How can a President grant a pardon while violating a citizen’s fundamental right accorded by the constitution,” he asked. According to him, such a conditional pardon contravenes the constitution of Sri Lanka.

“The conditions that he cannot engage in politics and that he cannot speak about the courts are not legal. Therefore the pardon granted is invalid as well and makes it illegal” he added. Walaliyadde made these comments while attending a television interview recently.

Minister of Justice, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has confirmed that former MP and actor Ranjan Ramanayake will be pardoned by President Ranil Wickremesinghe within the next week. Rajapakshe said all relevant documentation has been handed over to the President.

The Minister also said that he had sent the related reports to the President, recommending that it would be appropriate to grant him a Presidential pardon under the condition that he should submit an affidavit to Court expressing his regret over the statement made by Ranjan Ramanayake regarding the judiciary.

Ramanayake was sentenced to four years of hard labour by the Supreme Court on January 12 last year for the charge of Contempt of Court.

Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says it has been recommended that former MP Ranjan Ramanayake to be released from prison on a special pardon after submitting an official apology to the courts on the comment made by him. 

Rajapakshe pointed out the government believes that the presidential pardon is justified due to the fact that Ranjan Ramanayake has already been incarcerated for a lengthy period, has maintained good behaviour and is able to contribute to society.

The Minister said that to ensure the transparency of the process, the advice of the Attorney General and the report of the Commissioner General of Prisons were obtained and after considering all matters, it was recommended that a conditional pardon is appropriate.