UNP leader advised not to accept presidential pardon

Colombo: Main opposition United National Party's national organiser S.B. Dissanayake, serving a two-year jail term after being found guilty of contempt of court, has been advised by his party not to accept a presidential pardon as he would be entitled to parole in three months.

Dissanayake could obtain a parole similar to the privileges enjoyed by other prisoners in April and his appeal is under consideration, the Commissioner General of Prisons Rumy Marzook has said.

He said Dissanayake would be released as soon as the Prisons Board ruled on the matter.

He said the Prevention of Crimes Act provided for any prisoner serving a sentence of two years and whose behaviour was good, obtaining parole after serving part of the time in prison and could spend the balance period under the supervision of the Board.

Marzook said the Board comprising former High Court justice Hector S. Yapa, the commissioner general of prisons, the prisons' chief medical officer and others met once a month. UNP MP Mahinda Wijesekera confirmed Dissanayake has been advised not to accept the pardon.