Tamara says the UNP has not abandoned the campaign for his release

Speaking with BBC Sandeshaya, she said the family is seriously worried about his deteriorating health in the jail.

Admitting that there has been a lull in the United National Party’s (UNP) campaign for his release, the party has not abandoned it, she said.

“After a certain time, people lose interest on many things. But the UNP has not abandoned the issue.”

Campaign 'not dead'

According to her, opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe also supports the campaign.

Former minister Milinda Moragoda was told by the president that she needs more time to consider whether to offer a presidential pardon to her former close confidante, Tamara Dissanayake said.

'I think he has already paid for his past activites'

“If the president is angry with SB’s political activity in the UNP, I think SB has paid for that in six months in the jail.”

She said though Moragoda has requested a presidential pardon to SB on his own will, the party supported it and the family did not want to intervene.

Presidential pardon

The former General Secretary of the SLFP and the Samurdhi minister of both UNP and the Peoples’ Alliance (PA) governments, Dissanayake is on the verge of losing his parliamentary seat on 07 June.

Under Article 89 of the Constitution, any person who is serving or has served a jail term of more than six months disqualifies to be an elector for a period of seven years.

The Supreme Court jailed Dissanayake for two years of rigorous imprisonment in December last year for contempt of court for a speech he made critical of the judges.

Initially a staunch loyalist of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Dissanayake fell out of favour in 2001 and led a split that saw the collapse of her government.

He also had a reputation of running election campaigns with enthusiasm.