Death row pardon report fast-tracked to Cabinet

Justice and National Integration Minister, Attorney-at-Law Harsha Nanayakkara stated that the report of the committee appointed to establish a formal process for granting presidential pardons to prisoners sentenced to death and life imprisonment will be submitted to the Cabinet expeditiously.

The minister made this remark yesterday during a discussion held with prisoners serving death and life sentences while observing operations at the Colombo Remand Prison, New Magazine Prison, and Welikada Prison.

He stated that a committee headed by retired Supreme Court Justice S. Thurairaja was appointed with the objective of establishing a formal procedure for granting presidential pardons to prisoners serving death and life sentences.

Furthermore, the minister noted that the committee submitted the report following a study conducted over ten months.

The committee provided recommendations concerning the establishment of a formal presidential pardon process, reducing death sentences to life imprisonment, reducing the prison term of those serving life sentences to twenty years, and granting home leave to prisoners.

The minister added that facts relating to establishing a formal public pardon process for prisoners sentenced to death and life imprisonment will be presented to the Cabinet.