Duminda Silva arrested

Former MP Duminda Silva was arrested today after the Supreme Court suspended a presidential pardon granted to him in June 2021 while on death row.

The Supreme Court had issued an interim order suspending the presidential pardon granted to Duminda Silva and ordered his arrest.

Accordingly, the former MP was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) while he was receiving treatment at the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital.

Duminda Silva was convicted over the murder of Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra in 2011.

The Colombo High Court sentenced Duminda Silva to death on September 8, 2016 for the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

However, in 2019 when the Gotabaya Rajapaksa – Mahinda Rajapaksa administration took over there had been strong speculation that Duminda Silva will be freed.

A petition was also signed at the time by several Government Parliamentarians seeking a pardon for Silva.

Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and his bodyguards were murdered in October 2011 ahead of elections held at the time.

Duminda Silva was also injured in the incident and he sought treatment overseas but he was later accused of being involved in the killing. (Colombo Gazette)