Chief Government Whip Minister Johnston Fernando said 6.9 million people gave a mandate to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to do justice to "political prisoners" such as Duminda Silva.

Duminda Silva is erving a death sentence for the 2011 murder of former MP Bharatha Lakshman Permachandra, a former ally of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

During a speech in Parliament, Johnston Fernando repeatedly referred to Duminda Silva as a political prisoner. "That's why we say that the President is too democratic" Fernando said alluding to the delay in releasing Duminda Silva.

"Shani Abeysekera is a black mark on the CID. He ruined the dignitiy of the police uniform," Fernando added referring to the senior police officer who handled investigations into the Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra murder case.

Abeysekera, who is currently in remand, was recently tested positive for COVID19.