Press Release by CPPR
The fraudulent release of a prisoner under the pretext of a presidential pardon exposes the deep-rooted corruption within the prison system.
It has been alleged that an inmate, W.N. Athula Thilakaratne, formerly incarcerated at Anuradhapura Prison, was released under the general amnesty granted for the Vesak festival. However, according to the press release issued by the Presidential Media Division on June 7, 2025, Thilakaratne’s name was not included in the official list of 388 inmates submitted to the President on May 6, 2025, under document reference **06/01/යෝජිත/ජ.පො.සමා/වාර්/05.12/2025**.
This raises serious concerns that a group of corrupt prison officials may have orchestrated the inmate’s fraudulent release, falsely claiming it was part of the presidential amnesty. The prison authorities have not provided a formal explanation regarding this incident, inevitably fueling suspicions of misconduct.
In the statement issued by the prison authorities, there is no explicit confirmation of whether Thilakaratne’s name appeared on the list. Instead, it broadly asserts that the general pardon is not granted to specific individuals.
However, prison officials cannot evade responsibility for releasing inmates who were not officially pardoned or who were granted clemency based on false information. This incident highlights longstanding issues of corruption among prison officials, which have persisted unchecked over the years.
Serious allegations have surfaced regarding the misuse of prison hospitals, where officials accept bribes to keep individuals in the facility who do not medically qualify for admission. The practice of demanding substantial sums for hospital admission remains prevalent, and prison officials continue to extort money from inmates to perform their official duties. Corrupt activities within the system have grown increasingly sophisticated, enabling inmates to access mobile phones even in high-security prisons.
The 2022 government audit report revealed numerous irregularities, yet the previous administration failed to take any action to address them—emboldening corrupt officials.
As the **Committee for Protecting Prisoners’ Rights (CPPR),** we have persistently informed authorities about these systemic corruptions and irregularities within the prison system, urging immediate corrective action. However, the continued negligence of officials has allowed these practices to persist.
Since the prison system plays a crucial role in upholding justice, it is imperative that it be staffed with honest, law-abiding officials who ensure the rights of all citizens.
The government must take urgent action—today, not tomorrow—to eradicate corruption among prison officials who engage in illicit activities while collecting salaries from the state.
We firmly believe that only by holding accountable those involved in this fraudulent presidential pardon will President Anura Kumara Dissanayake avoid being associated with previous leaders—Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa—who misused their presidential pardon powers.