Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said granting presidential pardon for former MP Duminda Silva was the prerogative of the President. Addressing a press conference in Colombo, the Minister said the Executive President must make a decision on the matter, not the ruling party or the government.

"Therefore, it is not appropriate for us to present our opinions on the matter. The President will take all relevant matters into consideration and arrive at a final decision," Peiris added.

"However, the President also cannot make an arbitrary decision on the release of a person sentenced to death. He has to call for three reports from the judges who delivered the ruling, the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice. Based on the content of these reports, the President will make a decision on the release of Duminda Silva," he said.

Speculation is rife that the former MP, who was convicted for the murder of politician Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, will be granted a presidential pardon.

Uvatanne Sumana Thera, a Buddhist monk who is serving life imprisonment, was granted a presidential pardon by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa last week.