FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE PROCESS:

2005 - I entered prison

2013- The Prison Review board comprising of retired judges, police, prison commissioner, phsycologist, criminologist, AGS dept and Justice Ministry started reviewing all Prisoners on Death Row, myself included!

2016 - After detailed interviews; 250 Prisoners out of 600, were commuted to life imprisonment with reports

specifying that we are fit to be reintroduced to society.

2016 onwards - A range of civil society members, Buddhist monks, other religious clergy and professionals started a movement to release young rehabilitated and educated prisoners.

2018 to 2019 - The Judges Report, Prisons Department Report, the Attorney General’s Review Report and Justice Ministry recommendation, amongst other documents, citing a fair release for me were reviewed by the President’s Legal Review Board.

2019 - Based on the recommendations above, constitutional procedures and the opinion of the Legal Review Board – my release was approved.

In closing, I would like to say that despite all the procedure, my release on 9th November 2019, still came as a surprise to me as it would have been to you all.

Yes, I was hopeful but as a prisoner for 14 plus years, I did not know what to expect or imagine what it would be like if the prison gate opened for me. Some still think I should be inside prison and I can’t change that. But if you don’t believe anything else, at least believe that the pardon that was given to me, was not a result of any coercion or influence, but purely through process and as

I pointed out earlier. I am one of several hundreds of people who are fortunate enough to be afforded a second chance at life through the merit based pardoning system.

I ask for your understanding, because that is the kind of country we live in - where there is hope for even the worst criminal and mercy and forgiveness is a way of life. Please give me another chance.