President Maithripala Sirisena decided to pardon Sinnathambi Uthaya Sri, the 19 year old girl from Batticaloa, who was jailed for two years for scribbling on the mirror wall at Sigiriya, Deputy Minister of Social Services, Welfare and Livestock Development Ranjan Ramanayake stated.

Posting a message on his Facebook page, Ramanayake said that the president took this decision on the recommendation of Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

“Special thanks to Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa for making this happen, cultural minister Nandimithra Ekanayake and Deputy Minister Ajith Perera also played a key role” Ramanayake stated.

Speaking to Asian Mirror on March 12, Ramanayake stated that everyone should treat the young woman who scribbled on the Mirror Wall at Sigiriya with sympathy.

Ramanayake said that Sinnathambi Uthaya Sri could not have written her name on the Mirror Wall with the intention of damaging a historical site. He promised to do everything possible for her release.

State Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake also wrote to the president urging her release.

Uthaya was arrested on February 14 for writing on the Mirror Wall. Dambulla Magistrate Court later sentenced her for two years imprisonment.