In the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling, deeming former President Maithripala Sirisena's pardon of Don Shamantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha arbitrary and invalid, Sri Lankan authorities have escalated efforts to repatriate the convicted murderer, believed to be in Singapore.
However, Sri Lanka faces a potential hurdle as there is currently no extradition treaty in place with Singapore. Such agreements require mutual consent between the two nations, and while Sri Lanka has established such accords with numerous other countries, none exist with Singapore.
Sources within the police department indicate that Jayamaha, previously serving time for the Royal Park murder case, departed Sri Lanka on November 15, 2019, mere days before a court order prohibited his travel outside the country. Investigations revealed that Jayamaha secured a passport on November 13, 2019, immediately following the presidential pardon.
Reports suggest Jayamaha currently resides abroad, with suspicion pointing towards Singapore. Sri Lankan authorities are actively seeking international cooperation for his extradition.
"Given his departure from the country subsequent to the pardon, our legal recourse is to appeal to authorities in select countries, informing them of his status as a wanted individual and requesting his deportation," Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said.
