Outrage as Sri Lanka president pardons killer of Swedish teen
(Photo: YouTube)
Sri Lanka’s president has pardoned a death-row prisoner who murdered a Swedish teenager just a week before he leaves office, officials said Sunday, in a move that sparked national outrage.
Convicted killer Jude Jayamaha, from a wealthy, high-profile family, walked out of Welikada prison Saturday following the highly unusual amnesty granted by President Maithripala Sirisena.
Sirisena, who is stepping down after Saturday’s presidential election at which he is not a candidate, announced last month he was considering a request to grant Jayamaha a pardon.
Victim Yvonne Jonsson, who was holidaying in Sri Lanka, was beaten to death at a high-rise apartment in Colombo in 2005 after she and Jayamaha had an argument.
The court had been told her skull was fractured into 64 pieces.
Jayamaha was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison. He appealed to a higher court, which rejected his plea and instead sentenced him to death, which was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in 2014.
Jonsson’s sister Caroline wrote in a Facebook post about her concerns over Jayamaha’s pardon before the amnesty announcement.
“He showed and continues to show absolutely no remorse for what he has done,” she wrote.
“We’ve worked hard to rebuild our lives and here we are, going into 15 years, still fighting for justice. Unfortunately, we now have to prepare ourselves for the worst possible outcome, the pardon of my sister’s murderer.”
Many Sri Lankans took to social media to condemn Sirisena.
“Monstrous act by a failed president,” said a Twitter user identified as Thass.
“This news makes me sick,” added Shamila Cooray.
Others speculated Sirisena may have pardoned Jayamaha to test the water ahead of possibly pardoning another high-profile death-row inmate whose family owns radio and television stations that support him.
Sirisena failed to secure support from his own party to contest the November 16 election and must leave soon after results are declared, a day or two after the polls.
(AFP)
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Senior Professor Rathnayake appointed to restore order at University of Ruhuna November 24, 2024
- Sri Lankan fishing vessel seized with massive drug haul in Maldives November 24, 2024
- Audit reveals misuse of electric vehicle permits for migrant workers in Sri Lanka November 23, 2024
- IMF approves third review: Sri Lanka secures $333 million tranche under EFF November 23, 2024
- Sri Lankan President urges accountability and unity for a better future November 23, 2024
That’s the icing on the cake for Pamb*ya Sirisena’s tenure as President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The rich parents of this teenage murderer will quickly send him overseas where he will continue to practice his supreme art of killing innocents.
What a tragedy !!!!
Whoever is elected on the 16th Nov should put this rich kid, the murderer back behind bars within a day or so.
correction not pambaya but should be Pathola very bad example set to tarnish the country image, its to show that we Sri-lankans have no punishment for murder and we promote it what a farewell gift, yes you rite the next president should put the murderer back to prison as soon as elected.
these things only happen in banana republic
In this case Sirisena should sit in the death row.
Last parting shot by the CEO of the now-gasping-for-breath Yahapalanaya den of nincompoops, thieves, and outright traitors! Wow, What a steller record these vermin have left us with!