Jayamaha expresses grief over Yvonne’s murder, pleads for ’’second chance’’

Pardoned death row convict Jude Shramantha Jayamaha has expressed grief for murdering Swedish-Sri Lankan teenager Yvonne Jonsson in 2005, admitting that he is “ashamed for what has happened".

“There has only been sadness, loss and grief throughout this 15 years for everyone,” he said in an open letter, nearly a week after controversially being granted presidential pardon.

“I can’t replace Yvonne, and even if you don’t believe me now, I will keep on trying to make amends.”

Jayamaha, 19 years at the time of the murder, sought forgiveness from society stating that he had become a “changed man” now, at 34.

“I understand the anger you feel. But please judge me for what I am today and what I am attempting to do with my life,” he appealed.

The President’s Media Division (PMD) defending the President’s decision to pardon the convict this week said Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero had intervened to release the offender.

The PMD said that Jayamaha had completed his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of London and is currently reading for his doctorate at the Open University of Sri Lanka.

“I promise you I did not receive special privileges while doing any of this,” he said.

“Every tutorial or assignment was handwritten and posted – I did this to prove to myself and everyone else that I was a changed man.”

Jayamaha said he had been pursuing his education against “innumerable odds” to “give back by working for the development of my country.” He also said that the procedure to grant him pardon, as required by the Constitution had been followed.

Jayamaha said that the reports called from the Judges who issued the sentence against him, the Prisons Department, the Attorney General’s review report and the Justice Ministry’s recommendation had been reviewed by the President’s Legal Review Board prior to being granted pardon. “Please give me another chance,” he pleaded.