Presidential Pardon for Uvathenne Sumana Thera
Posted by ONLANKA Newsroom on January 3, 2021 - 8:00 am
Ven Uwathenne Sumana thera of Sri Bodhirajarama Temple, Maligawatte, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, has been granted Presidential Pardon today.
The pardon is subject to the condition that he withdraws an appeal filed against the sentence.
The Ven. Sumana Thera who was a supporter of the then Presidential candidate former Army commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka was sentenced for the possession of a T56 firearm.
He was also accused of possessing 50 hand grenades and 210 rounds of live ammunition, but the charges were dropped later.
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From the glance of the news item, it gives an impression that the presidential system of pardoning is bad. When looking at the charges, the ‘life sentence’ for possessing the firearm also appears too much. So, where is the problem ? When this happens to an ord person, what will be his fate ! ‘Constitutional amendments’ or the ‘Judicial Audits’ – which is the answer, What will be the much talked independent commission’s position & much powerful & more privileged law maker’s stand in parliament?
All systems have internal & external auditing in their departments to have some sort of checks and balances !