MP and former Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala yesterday criticised the Presidential pardon for convict Duminda Silva, charging that although the move was shocking, it was no surprise to those who knew the Government’s attitude towards protecting murders. 

“The Presidential pardon granted to convicted murderer Duminda Silva may have shocked those who trusted this Government, but it comes as no surprise to those of us who knew their attitude towards protecting murderers and punishing those who investigated them,” Athukorala said in a statement. 

“Duminda Silva’s death sentence was unanimously upheld by a bench of five Supreme Court Justices. Beginning with the pardon of child killer Sunil Ratnayake, this regime has demonstrated a pattern of rewarding murderers while punishing Police officers who have the courage to investigate murders committed by powerful or politically connected people,” she added. 

The MP said last week, in granting bail to former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekara, the Court of Appeal found that the Government fabricated false evidence and false statements and used draconian laws without a shred of evidence to punish independent professional Police officers who refuse to bow to them. “That judgment gave people reason to hope that there are still independent, law-abiding civil servants and members of the Judiciary with a backbone who will not bow down to the Executive or bend the criminal justice system and other State machinery to their whim and fancy,” she said.  

“Today, those found guilty of the most serious crimes in our law enjoy Presidential protection while the judges and Police officers who brought them to justice have targets on their backs. If any harm were to befall them, this Government will be held entirely responsible,” Athukorala added.

The former Justice Minister said it was up to those remaining professional Police officers and civil servants to remember that Sri Lanka was not a monarchy, to ignore coercion by the Executive and to place the lives of these upstanding judges and Police officers before whatever threats or inducements may be offered to them for looking the other way.

Presidential pardon for Duminda Silva grave threat to democratic rule, judicial independence: SJB