SJB Kalutara MP Ajith P Perera said in Parliament on 6 that the President has granted a general pardon to a person convicted by the Anuradhapura High Court and who has been indicted in other courts on the Vesak Poya Day.

The President has granted a general pardon to Athula Senaratne, who was convicted under Section 386 of the Penal Code in the Anuradhapura High Court case HC 69- 2018 on 25 May 2025.

Although the Supreme Court has pointed out in numerous judgments about the method of granting presidential general pardon, he pointed out that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has not learned lessons from it.

Statement issued by the Prisons Department regarding the Presidential Pardon

The statement says that the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court has remanded a prisoner named Athula Thilakaratne in custody for violating Section 386 of the Sri Lanka Penal Code and that the court has ordered him to pay a fine of Rs. 2 million.

The Magistrate’s Court has also taken steps to impose a sentence of 6 months’ rigorous imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

The MP said this during the debate on the condolence motion for four deceased MPs including Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera.

Ajith C. Perera further said the following.

It is very serious, a person sentenced to prison has become a place where justice should be served. A person who has other cases has been granted a presidential pardon.