Dissanayake being sworn-in by Kumaratunga for Wickramasinghe cabinet

President Rajapaksa has directed a letter granting a pardon to SB Dissanayake to Justice Minister Amarasiri Dodamgoada, according to the presidential secretariat.

A group of senior monks led by Prof. Bellanwila Wimalathana thero who met the president on Tuesday at Temple Trees urged him to release Dissanayake, a statement issued by president’s coordinating Director (media) Chandrapala Liyanage stated.

Civil rights

The former Samurdhi, Agriculture and Sports minister lost his parliamentary seat after he was sentenced to two years with rigorous imprisonment in December 2004 for making defamatory remarks on the judiciary.

The United National Party (UNP), has vowed to continue the campaign for Dissanayake’s civil rights.

	Tamara Dissanayake campaigned with the party for her husband's release

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 UNP leader, Ranil Wickramasinghe, has thanked the president for releasing National Organising Secretary of the party.

A statement issued by Wickramasinghe has also expressed gratitude for all those who campaigned for Dissanayake’s release.

Kumaratunga loyalist

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

Since he had crossed over, he became one of the fiercest critics of Kumaratunga and her ruling coalition.

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

SB Dissanayake made the offending statement about the Supreme Court judges, while he was a minister in former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Front cabinet.

It was an unusually severe penalty for contempt of court in Sri Lanka.