Now pardoned death row convict and former MP Duminda Silva has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority. Accordingly, this was confirmed through a letter signed by the Secretary to the President PB Jayasundara which was addressed to Keerthi Ranjith Abeysiriwardena, the Secretary to the State Ministry of Rural Housing, Construction and Building Materials Industrial Promotion. After his release, Silva had met with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Colombo High Court gave Silva the death sentence in 2016, over the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. President Rajapaksa’s recent granting of a pardon to Silva led to an avalanche of criticism from the family of slain former MP Premachandra, the Parliamentary Opposition, the legal community, and foreign nations. Meanwhile, Former Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra told The Morning earlier that she fears for the safety of those around her, following the release of Silva. She also added that she is yet to receive a response from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with regard to the open letter she sent to him on the long speculated Presidential pardon granted to Silva.