A fresh controversy is brewing in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province after a man from the Anuradhapura area, reportedly linked to past financial support for the National People’s Power (NPP), was released under the latest round of presidential amnesties.
Speaking to media in Anuradhapura, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rohana Bandara voiced public concerns, saying that people in the region strongly believe this individual’s release was not coincidental but potentially politically motivated.
“There’s a perception forming among locals that this man, known for providing financial assistance to the ‘compass’ the symbol of the NPP was deliberately included in the amnesty list. If that’s the case, it sends a dangerous signal about the use of presidential powers for partisan ends,” Bandara remarked.
He dismissed the idea that blame could be shifted solely onto public officials. “The government cannot simply wash its hands and say this is a decision made by officials alone. People aren’t blind they want accountability and transparency in how these amnesties are decided,” he added.
With political tensions simmering ahead of the next electoral cycle, this accusation fuels wider concerns about the selective use of presidential pardons, especially when those released are alleged to have ties with influential political movements. Bandara called on the government to publicly clarify the basis of the selection process to dispel growing mistrust among citizens.
The situation is likely to add further pressure on the administration to explain how decisions about amnesty recipients are made and whether hidden loyalties and political debts are influencing justice behind the scenes.
