In a historic ruling SC suspends Presidential pardon of Duminda Silva

• SC directs police to take Silva into custody 
• Imposes overseas travel ban
• Grants interim relief after considering three FR petitions filed challenging the presidential pardon

Duminda Silva

In a historic ruling, the Supreme Court yesterday issued an interim order suspending the presidential pardon granted to former MP Duminda Silva, who was serving a death sentence for the murder of fellow politician Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. 

The SC also directed the police to take Silva into custody and imposed an overseas travel ban on him. 

The bench comprised Supreme Court Justices P. Padman Surasena, Yasantha Kodagoda and Achala Wengappulli.

The Supreme Court ordered the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department to take the necessary action to enforce the court order and directed the Attorney General to assist and advise the CID in the matter. 

The SC ruling came after preliminary hearings into three fundamental rights filed by the daughter of the deceased Hirunika Premachandra, her mother Sumana Premachandra, and attorney Ghazali Hussain, PC. 

The hearing onto the petitions will begin on 1 September.

Duminda Silva was granted a presidential pardon last June by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa while he was on death row having been convicted for the 2011 killing of Premachandra.

He was appointed as the Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority following his pardon.