Neville Ladduwahetty, in The Island, 8 April 2020, where the title reads “Pardoning of former Corporal Sunil Rathnayake”
It is reported that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has granted a pardon to former Corporal Sunil Rathnayake, who was convicted of murder, unlawful assembly and common intent by a Trial-at-Bar in 2015. On appeal, the judgment was upheld by a five Judge Bench of the Supreme Court. There is considerable reaction from the public both nationally and internationally for the decision taken by the President. As part of this reaction the Human Rights Commissioner of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has written to the President, expressing ‘deep concern’ about the pardon granted in view of the seriousness of the crime committed. Having expressed concern, the HRCSL has gone on to state that while death sentence is mandatory for murder, they “would have been in agreement” had the President “commuted the death sentence to long term imprisonment given the serious nature of the offence”.
Pic 50 in TPS. Pictorial –presenting senior LTTE commanders –probably circa 2003/05.
