Colombo: Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday summoned former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in connection with the presidential pardon granted to a soldier convicted of killing eight ethnic Tamils, including a child, in 2000.
The move comes just five months after a landmark judgment by the top court overturning the presidential pardon granted by 74-year-old Rajapaksa to his close aide, who was convicted of murder, following President's rule in 1978. This was the first such case after the system was implemented. Island nation.
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 in 2000 during the military conflict with the LTTE.
Rajapaksa, who was ousted in mid-2022 following 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 scheduled for 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 pardon, subject to a prescribed procedure.
The move comes just five months after a landmark judgment by the top court overturning the presidential pardon granted by 74-year-old Rajapaksa to his close aide, who was convicted of murder, following President's rule in 1978. This was the first such case after the system was implemented. Island nation.
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 in 2000 during the military conflict with the LTTE.
Rajapaksa, who was ousted in mid-2022 following 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 scheduled for 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 pardon, subject to a prescribed procedure.
