Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath Jayaweera yesterday (25) informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga that several detainees under special surveillance by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have been suspiciously released from certain prisons, under the guise of Presidential Pardon.
She revealed that while these individuals’ names were not included in any official lists granting Presidential Pardons, their names appeared in the gate ledgers of the respective prisons as having been released. Investigations have uncovered that several individuals were released from various prisons under questionable circumstances. Among them are persons who left custody under suspicious conditions and others who were key suspects in ongoing investigations.
Their names were not on any of the official pardon lists—not in the original submissions nor in the list compiled 11 days before the releases. Despite this, they were released through the prison gates, and their names are recorded in the gate logs as having been discharged.
Deputy Solicitor General Herath made these revelations while presenting an updated report to the court regarding a case involving the alleged unauthorised release of a detainee from Anuradhapura Prison who was not eligible for a Presidential Pardon.
Former Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya, who has been remanded in connection with the case, was produced before court by prison officials yesterday.
After considering the submissions made by the Deputy Solicitor General, the Magistrate ordered that the suspect be further remanded until 9 July.
