Former President Maithripala Sirisena says that an investigation has revealed that some individual has taken money to ensure that a presidential pardon was granted to Royal Park murder convict Shramantha Jayamaha.
Shramantha Jayamaha was sentenced to death for the murder of Yvonne Jonsson at the Royal Park Condominium complex in Rajagiriya in 2005.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena granted him a presidential pardon in 2019.
Speaking to local media during an interview, the former President denied he had taken money to give a presidential pardon to Shramantha Jayamaha.
Maithripala Sirisena said MP Athureliya Rathana Thero had visited him along with the parents of convicted Shramantha Jayamaha and had handed over a letter seeking the latter’s release.
While stating that he had not paid much attention to the letter, MP Sirisena said that MP Rathana Thero would visit him often with Shramantha’s family members and kept urging him to release him.
“There were rumours that I had received Rs. 50 million, Rs. 50 billion, and even Rs. 80 billion to release Shramantha. I immediately instructed intelligence officers to investigate the matter. Officers from the Intelligence Unit found that someone has taken payment to ensure Shramantha’s release,” he said.
The former President said the investigations revealed that an exchange of money had occurred between the family of Shramantha and some person.
“I did not take even 5 cents and will never take money,” Maithripala Sirisena added.
When inquired if the people who took the money were the ones who had been keen on the release of Shramantha, the former President said that could be the case.
