Presidential Pardon for Minister Thondaman

P. RAJARATNAM in Nuwara Eliya

NUWARA ELIYA: A Presidential Pardon was granted in the case where Nuwara Eliya Magistrate Amali Ranaweera imposed a suspended sentence of six months imprisonment pending for three years on Minister Arumugan Thondaman, Deputy Minister and Ceylon Workers’ Congress President Muthu Sivalingam and V. Radhakrishnan, a member of the Central Provincial Council.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has taken this decision in accordance with the powers vested in him under the Constitution, Presidential sources said.

In this case the suspects were charged with contempt of Court in relation to the same case on an order delivered earlier. The other six suspects were discharged.

In this case the three suspects with others were charged with contempt of Court, in addition to the suspects forcibly entering into the Ceylon Workers’ Congress Office, situated at Lady McCallums Drive at Nuwara Eliya, which was in possession with S. Sathasivan, a former Member of Parliament and also the Vice President of the CWC and evicting him and others forcibly, using force and in addition to causing damages to property and belongings on the day of the alleged offence.

The trial lasted for several dates and after inquiry the Magistrate imposed the sentence.

President’s Counsel Daya Perera appeared for the suspects, while Gamini with Sivanjothy Yogarajah, Attorneys-at-law appeared for the prosecution.