Colombo: The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Friday issued summons to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the matter of presidential pardon to a murder convict.
The move comes just five months after a landmark ruling by the apex court overturned a presidential pardon granted to a close aide of Rajapaksa convicted of murder since the island nation imposed President's rule in 1978. This was the first case of its kind. ,
Friday's summons relates to the 2020 pardon granted by Rajapaksa to soldier Suni Ratnayake, who was convicted of killing eight ethnic Tamils, including a child, in Mirusuvil in the North Jaffna district during a military conflict with the LTTE in 2000.
Rajapaksa, who was ousted in mid-2022 after a popular revolt against him, will have to answer to the court about his decision to pardon Ratnayake in response to a fundamental rights petition. The next hearing is to be held in September.
Ratnayake has also been ordered to appear in court along with Rajapaksa for a hearing in September.
On 15 January, the Supreme Court overturned the pardon of Duminda Silva, a close political ally of Rajapaksa, who was sentenced to death for the 2011 murder of a local political rival from the same party. Relatives of Silva's victim Bharat Laxman Premchandra had challenged the pardon.
Following Rajapaksa's pardon, Silva was sent back to prison to serve his sentence.
Under Article 34 of the Sri Lankan Constitution, the President has the power to grant pardons, subject to a prescribed procedure.
The move comes just five months after a landmark ruling by the apex court overturned a presidential pardon granted to a close aide of Rajapaksa convicted of murder since the island nation imposed President's rule in 1978. This was the first case of its kind. ,
Friday's summons relates to the 2020 pardon granted by Rajapaksa to soldier Suni Ratnayake, who was convicted of killing eight ethnic Tamils, including a child, in Mirusuvil in the North Jaffna district during a military conflict with the LTTE in 2000.
Rajapaksa, who was ousted in mid-2022 after a popular revolt against him, will have to answer to the court about his decision to pardon Ratnayake in response to a fundamental rights petition. The next hearing is to be held in September.
Ratnayake has also been ordered to appear in court along with Rajapaksa for a hearing in September.
On 15 January, the Supreme Court overturned the pardon of Duminda Silva, a close political ally of Rajapaksa, who was sentenced to death for the 2011 murder of a local political rival from the same party. Relatives of Silva's victim Bharat Laxman Premchandra had challenged the pardon.
Following Rajapaksa's pardon, Silva was sent back to prison to serve his sentence.
Under Article 34 of the Sri Lankan Constitution, the President has the power to grant pardons, subject to a prescribed procedure.
