President Ranil Wickremesinghe has awarded a posthumous Presidential Pardon to Diyunuge Edward Henry Pedris, who was unjustly executed on July 7, 1915. Pedris, then 27, was convicted of treason by a colonial Court-Martial in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, and was sentenced to death amid claims of rioting against the Government.

The decision to pardon Pedris follows a December 2023 Cabinet approval to investigate his execution. Evidence revealed that Pedris's death was the result of a scheme by colonial officials, leading to his body being cremated under Martial Law protocols at an undisclosed location.

The Cabinet has also authorized the formation of a three-member committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Anil Gooneratne, to further investigate the case and ensure justice for Pedris. This decision rectifies a historical wrong and acknowledge the injustices faced by Pedris more than a century ago.