By Kushali Atukorale
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to consider the pardoning of United National Party (UNP) National Organiser S.B. Dissanayake, soon after his return from the Annual General Meeting of the United Nations.

Presidential Advisor A.H.M. Azwer told The Nation that the President will be giving considerable thought to pardoning Dissanayake, in deference to the request made by Asgiriya Chapter Mahanayake Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera last Tuesday (16).

“The final decision lies in the hands of the President, therefore, we have to wait and see what steps the President will be taking once he gets back to the country, since it’s a very sensitive case as Dissanayake was found guilty of contempt of court, unlike committing some other wrong,” Azwer added.

Meanwhile, UNP Parliamentarian and leading party rebel Johnston Fernando, said the President might not pardon Dissanayake since he is one of the strongmen in the UNP.

“It’s unlikely that Dissanayake will be pardoned, as the President knows that Dissanayake will not hesitate to expose the misdeeds of the government. Therefore, Rajapaksa might let the chance go by, showing a totally different scenario to the request made by the Mahanayake Thera,” Fernando asserted.

Fernando also said that lack of such strong politicians of the calibre of Dissanayake in Parliament, is reflected in the massive amount of corruption practiced by those in power, “People like S.B. Dissanayake have the ability to expose corrupt Ministers and government officials and intelligently challenge any bill which only favours the government’s henchmen. Therefore, the President will not take a chance in pardoning him,” he added.

Former Minister S.B. Dissanayake, lost his Parliamentary seat because he had been absent from the Parliament for a period of three months in year 2004 and he also lost his civic rights due to contempt of Court and was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment, when he had criticised the Supreme Court in a political speech using immoderate language, although Dissanayake had been advised not to insult the Courts on a previous occasion. While he was serving his sentence, President Rajapaksa reduced his imprisonment period to a year and half, but Dissanayake was not given a Presidential pardon.

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