The main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) urged the Government to present to the Parliament the list of 388 prisoners who were granted Presidential pardons on account of the Vesak Poya day last month (May).

SJB Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman made this demand during a press briefing held yesterday (11), where he said that the Government should also take steps to publicise the list of prisoners that was sent to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the list that received the President’s approval.

He made these remarks as several top Prison officials are being investigated regarding the release of a financial fraud convict without the President’s approval during the pardoning programme. Urging the Government to conduct the relevant investigations in a systematic manner, Rahman further questioned accountability on the part of the President with regard to approving the list of prisoners that were recommended for pardon.