Need for reparations to those pardoned but kept imprisoned beyond their periods of legal incarceration - National Peace Council

Out of these 8 LTTE prisoners who were pardoned, three of those were convicted of trying to assassinate former President Chandrika Kumaratunga who was wounded by the bomb attack.

However the National Peace Council relying on the information supplied by the the Presidential Secretariat states that four of the eight prisoners had served longer prison terms than their court-ordered sentences. 

The statement further states “Three prisoners had been sentenced to 30 years in prison and had served 22 years, one prisoner who had been sentenced to 11 years and had served 14 years, one who has been sentenced to 10 years and had also served 14 years, two prisoners who were sentenced to five years but had served for 14 years, were among those who received a presidential pardon.”

The council further emphasize that this is a serious violation of human rights in terms of international human rights covenants and an intolerable abuse of power by those who kept them incarcerated in this manner for a long period of time.

The National Peace Council also warns the government that by keeping these detainees in prison, there will be a need to pay compensation considering the number of years lost to the victims.