Rathana Thero linked to release of Royal Park murder convict!

Former President Maithripala Sirisena says intelligence forces have revealed that someone had obtained money in order to ensure the presidential pardon and release for the Royal Park murder convict.

The money had been obtained from the convict's family.

Speaking at the Derana 360 programme on Monday (20), Mr. Sirisena said that MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera had constantly arrived with the convict's family and made a plea to release him on a presidential pardon.

"Later I learnt of rumours that I had taken billions to release this man on presidential pardon. Therefore, i directed intelligence units to look into these rumours and they uncovered that someone had actually obtained money from the convict's family."

"I have neither taken nor will take a red cent," he added.

When the show host asked whether that would mean the other parties who were greatly interested in this matter could have obtained the money, the ex-President agreed that it was a possibility.