Presidential pardon clears ex-UNP national organizer to contest on UPFA

S.B.Dissanayake who was the national organizer of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) till he defected to the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and supported the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapakse in the last presidential election was granted full presidential pardon and appointed as UPFA organizer for Udunuwara electorate in Kandy district.

Dissanayake was sentenced for one year by the Supreme Court in a contempt of court case for criticizing the judiciary that disqualified him from contesting parliamentary election.

He was then a minister in the United National Front (UNF) government led by Ranil Wickremesinghe.

With the UPFA came to power he was released from prison without serving full term jail sentence on the presidential directive.

With the full presidential pardon granted by the President Mahinda Rajapakse Thursday, Dissanayake is now legally entitled to contest such election.

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