Bar Association condemns Presidential pardon for Duminda Silva

• Says move unreasonable and arbitrary; will result in erosion to rule of law and loss of public confidence in justice
• Questions whether pardon granted in accordance with report of trial judges, AG’s advice and recommendation of Justice Minister 
• Says President must make public reasons as to why case of Duminda Silva stands out from others currently sentenced

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday via a statement condemned the Presidential pardon for convict and former MP Duminda Silva, saying it was “unreasonable and arbitrary” and would result in erosion to the rule of law and loss of public confidence in justice. 

Following is the full text of the BASL:

The attention of the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has been drawn to a pardon given by His Excellency the President to Duminda Silva, a prisoner who was convicted for unlawful assembly and murder by a High Court at Bar, which was unanimously affirmed by a Divisional Bench of the Supreme Court headed by the then Chief Justice Hon. Priyasath Dep. 

Whilst Article 34(1) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka allows the President to grant such a pardon, either free or subject to lawful considerations, the proviso to Article 34 (1) requires the President to call for a report from the Judge who tried the case where the offender has been condemned to death. 

Such a report is required to be forwarded to the Attorney General for advice and the proviso also requires the Report together with the Attorney General’s advice to be referred to the Minister of Justice who too is required to submit his recommendation to the President. 

It is the right of the public to know whether the said pardon has been granted in accordance with the report of the Trial Judges, the advice of the Attorney General and the recommendation of the Hon. Minister of Justice. As such, the BASL has written to His Excellency the President requesting to make the public aware whether such report, advice or recommendation do exist and if so whether they in fact recommend or do not recommend such pardon to Duminda Silva. 

Whilst His Excellency the President has the power and discretion to pardon, such discretion must always be exercised judiciously. Such power must not be exercised arbitrarily and selectively. 

The BASL is mindful that in the past too there have been instances where selective pardons have been granted without any material to justify the basis on which the respective prisoners were selected for granting of such pardons, and the BASL has on those occasions strongly taken up the same position which the BASL is now taking up. 

Any pardon to be granted under Article 34 of the Constitution should be made after a careful analysis of the necessity to grant such a pardon as stipulated in the proviso to Article 34 (1) of the Constitution.  

In the aforesaid circumstances, the BASL has written to His Excellency the President and requested that His Excellency convey to the BASL and to the general public: a. The basis on which Duminda Silva was selected for the purpose of granting a pardon under Article 34 (1) of the Constitution 

b. The facts and circumstances which were taken into consideration in the granting of such pardon 

c. The reasons as to why the case of Duminda Silva stands out from others who are currently sentenced 

d. Whether a report was called for by His Excellency the President from the Trial Judges as required by the Proviso to Article 34 (1) prior to granting of the pardon to Duminda Silva and if so the contents of the report 

e. Whether the advice of the Attorney General was called for prior to granting of the pardon to Duminda Silva and if so the contents of such advice 

f. Whether the recommendation of the Minister of Justice was obtained prior to granting of the pardon to Duminda Silva and if so whether the Minister of Justice made such a recommendation 

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka maintains that if any one or more considerations stated above were not satisfied in the current case, the pardon granted to Duminda Silva would be unreasonable and arbitrary and will result in erosion to the Rule of Law and result in a loss of public confidence in respect of the administration of justice.