The Attorney General’s Department yesterday told the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that former Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya had misused his authority to unlawfully release a convicted financial fraudster under the guise of a Presidential pardon.

Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, appearing for the CID, told court that Upuldeniya had bypassed standard procedures and released a prisoner — Athula Thilakarathna — whose name was not included in the official Vesak pardon list approved by the Ministry of Justice. The released individual had been convicted and sentenced by the Anuradhapura High Court on May 2.

Peiris further alleged that Upuldeniya’s actions undermined the judicial process and Presidential pardon protocol. “These officials have been operating their institutions like private empires,” he said, highlighting past similar releases during Christmas and Independence Day, in violation of the law.

He added that preliminary investigations suggest 57 inmates were released illegally in December 2024 and 11 more on Independence Day 2025. The AG’s Department has now expanded the probe to examine possible illicit accumulation of wealth by senior prison officials.

Upuldeniya, who was arrested by the CID on June 9, was ordered to be remanded until June 11 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Rathnayake. His bail request was rejected due to concerns it could interfere with ongoing investigations.