The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that investigations have been launched to locate Jude Shramantha Jayamaha who was sentenced to death in connection with the Royal Park murder case.

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court recently ruled that former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant a Presidential pardon to Royal Park murder convict Don Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha was arbitrary and invalid in law. The Court further directed the Attorney General and all relevant authorities to take the necessary steps to arrange Jayamaha’s extradition, as he is considered a convict on death row.

When the Fundamental Rights petition which was filed challenging former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant Presidential Pardon to Royal Park murder convict was called before Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Shiran Goonaratne and Proyantha Fernando, State Counsel appeared on behalf of the Attorney General informed Court that the investigations have been initiated to locate Jude Jayamaha with assistance from Interpol.

The Women and Media Collective had filed this Fundamental Rights petition challenging the legality of former President Sirisena’s decision to grant the Presidential pardon to the Royal Park murder convict. It was revealed that Jude Jayamaha fled the country shortly after receiving the pardon. The Supreme Court had earlier issued an interim order directing the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to prevent Don Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha from leaving the country, without Court permission. However, it was revealed that Jayamaha had left the country soon after the Presidential pardon was granted.

(DailyNews)

(This story, originally published by DailyNews has not been edited by SLM staff)