Former President Maithripala Sirisena has informed the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka that the decision to grant a Presidential Pardon to Royal Park murder convict Jude Jayamaha was after following all provisions under the Constitution.

The son of a wealthy businessman in Colombo, Jude Shramantha Jayamaha was sentenced to death for the murder of Yvonne Jonsson at the Royal Park Condominium complex in Rajagiriya in 2005.

In 2006 the High Court ordered a 12-year prison sentence for Jayamaha. In 2012 Jayamaha was given the death sentence by the Court of Appeal following an application by the Attorney General’s department against the earlier verdict.

The sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.

Whereas, on November 9, 2019, Jayamaha was granted a presidential pardon by Maithripala Sirisena during his last week in office as President.

Soon after his release from prison, Jayamaha left the country and little has been known about his whereabouts ever since.