2026-03-03 / Oral Questions: Death Sentence Appeals (Q.1630/2025), Environmental Complaint (Q.1864/2026), and Deferred Questions 2026-03-03
## Summary
The Minister of Justice and National Integration reported that 793 death-row prisoners have exhausted all legal appeals and have not received Presidential Pardon under Article 34 of the Constitution, while declining to release a list of these individuals on privacy grounds. The Minister acknowledged that previous presidents have granted pardons, both on the basis of committee recommendations and on an individual basis. To establish a more objective process, the Minister announced the Cabinet-approved formation of a committee — chaired by a Supreme Court Judge and comprising representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Attorney-General's Department, and the Sri Lanka Police — whose recommendations will be submitted to Cabinet to formulate a formal pardon procedure.
(a)
(i) By letter No. K.07/M:D:N Committee/Parliament Questions/11/2026 dated 05.02.2026 from the Commissioner General of Prisons, it has been informed that 793 prisoners who have been sentenced to death, in respect of whom all appeals have been exhausted and who have not received Presidential Pardon in terms of Article 34 of the Constitution, are being held in prison.
(ii) I refuse to provide such a list so as to protect the privacy of the prisoners.
(b)
(i) I agree.
(ii) It is known that former Presidents have done so.
(iii) In the cases mentioned above, it appears that in certain instances action has been taken based on committee recommendations and, in some other instances, on an individual basis.
(c)
(i) To carry out this process on an objective basis, I have appointed, with Cabinet approval, a committee with the participation of a Supreme Court Judge. It consists of members representing subject-related institutions such as the Ministry of Justice and National Integration, the Attorney-General’s Department, the Sri Lanka Police, etc. Upon receipt of the committee’s report, it will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval and the procedure will be formulated according to its recommendations based on that approval.
(ii) Further steps will be taken according to the recommendations of that report.
(d) Does not arise.