The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners yesterday (08) said it would be President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s responsibility to take punitive action against the Prisons Department officials alleged to have released a convicted fraudster W.M. Athula Tillekaratne by surreptitiously including him in the group granted presidential pardon for Vesak.
Executive Director of the Committee Attorney-at-Law Seneka Perera, told The Island that if Tillekaratne hadn’t been among the 388 prisoners whose release was approved by the President, the government should quickly identify those responsible for abusing this annual Vesak Poya day general pardon.
Lawyer Perera said that freeing a convicted man was as bad as releasing 323 containers without scrutiny on January 18 this year.
Responding to queries, the civil society activist said that a proper investigation would reveal how the corrupt Prisons Mafia exploited annual Vesak Poya day general pardon as well as other similar occasions to release convicted persons on the sly.
The Attorney-at-Law warned President Dissanayake unless he took tangible action against the Prisons Mafia and cleared his name, he, too, would be categorised along with past Presidents, J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa who granted presidential pardon to various persons under controversial circumstances.
The lawyer said that the former finance company manager found guilty of misappropriating Rs. 4 million by the Anuradhapura High Court on May 02, 2025 had been released less than two weeks later.
Tillekaratne was convicted under Section 386 of the Penal Code by the Anuradhapura High Court and received a suspended prison term alongside a Rs. 2 million fine, payable as compensation.
Perera said some prisoners could easily secure beds at the Prisons hospitals by paying off the Prisons Mafia.
The Attorney-at-Law appreciated the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)initiating an investigation into Tillekaratne’s release. Initial investigations have revealed that in addition to Tillekaratne several others were released. The CID over the weekend questioned Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya. Upuldeniya, who has headed the department since late March 2021, he didn’t answer his mobile phone.
Perhaps the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) too should look into this matter, lawyer Perera.Tillekarantne’s release was first raised in Parliament by SJB lawmaker Ajith P. Perera last week.
BY Shamindra Ferdinando 