The Presidential pardon granted to former MP and Chairman of National Housing Development Authority Duminda Silva was suspended by the Supreme Court (SC) today (31).
The Supreme Court Judges Yasantha Kodagoda, Preethi Padman Surasena and Achala Vengapuli decided this after hearing two petitions filed by former MP Hirunika Premachandra and her mother Swarna Premachandra challenging the presidential pardon granted to Silva.
Duminda who was on death row after being found guilty of the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra pardoned by the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the month of June 2021.
The Court granted leave to proceed with the two cases and ordered CID to arrest Duminda Silva immediately.
The SC has also imposed a travel ban on him and called for his passport to be impounded.
Attorney at Law Eraj de Silva appeared for Mrs. Premachandra while President’s Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran appeared for Hirunika.
However sources said that Duminda Silva has left the country couple of weeks ago.
