68 prisoners were released outside the proper legal framework

Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upul Upuldeniya has been remanded until tomorrow following his arrest in connection with the unauthorized release of a prisoner under the guise of a presidential pardon.

Upuldeniya was presented before Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Rathnayake today after being taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department last night.

Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, representing the Attorney General’s Department, stated in court that the prison official had acted outside constitutional procedures, releasing a prisoner not included in the official amnesty list. Peiris described the act as a serious blow to the rule of law, accusing prison officials of operating as a “separate court” and issuing pardons arbitrarily.

Defence attorney Darshana Kuruppu argued that Upuldeniya was unaware of the Anuradhapura prisoner’s release and blamed a misinterpretation of a circular by the prison superintendent.

The court denied bail after strong objections from the Attorney General’s Department, with investigations ongoing.