Sri Lanka's Supreme Court suspended a presidential pardon for a murderer associated with the ruling Rajapaksa family, ordering his immediate return to jail in a landmark decision. A three-judge bench asked the police to arrest Duminda Silva, who was facing the death penalty for a 2011 murder but was freed in June after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa granted him an amnesty.
"The court fixed a further hearing for September 1, but wanted the police to carry out the interim order of arresting Duminda Silva and return him to jail'', a court official said. He said the decision was given following an unprecedented challenge to the presidential pardon.
Hirunika Premachandra, the daughter of former legislator Bharatha Lakshman — who was shot dead by Silva and his associates — filed the petition saying his release was illegal. — AFP
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