Grant Presidential Pardons on Humanitarian Grounds: MP S. Sritharan

09-Aug-2025

.

Tamil political prisoners who have been detained for extended periods under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) should be granted presidential pardons on humanitarian grounds, urged MP S. Sritharan of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). 

Addressing the Minister of Justice in Parliament on August 7, Sritharan pointed out that many Tamil prisoners have been languishing in prison for years.

He welcomed the Minister of Justice’s acknowledgment that steps are being considered to grant general amnesty. 

He cited names of several prisoners who have been imprisoned for 14 to 30 years, including Kathirgamatambi Sivakumar, Vigneswaranathan Parthiban, Krishnasamy Ramachandran, Shanmugalingam Suriyakumar, Johnson Colin Levantino, Sachithanantham Ananda Sudhakar, A.H. Umar Khadar, Thangavelu Vimalan, Selvarajah Kirubakaran, and Thambiyaiya Prakash.

He appealed for compassion for their futures and for their families—highlighting, for instance, that Ananda Sudhakar’s children are living without their parents. 

The MP reiterated his plea to the Parliament, requesting a presidential pardon on humanitarian grounds.