Former Army Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake who was on death row has been granted a Presidential pardon.

The Former Staff Sergeant Ratnayake was found guilty for the murder of eight civilians in Mirusuvil, Jaffna and was sentenced to death on the 25th of June, 2015.

The death sentence was delivered by the Colombo High Court following a 13-year long trial.

The incident dubbed the “Mirusuvil massacre”, happened on the 20th of December 2000. Initially, 14 Soldiers were taken into custody for the murder of eight civilians and later nine of them were acquitted from all charges.

Later, the Attorney General had filed charges against the 5 remaining soldiers, including former staff sergeant Ratnayake, however, the other four soldiers were acquitted as there was insufficient evidence to connect them to the murders.

Ratnayake was found guilty of 15 offences.

According to reports, Sunil Ratnayake has returned to his home after receiving the Presidential pardon.