On Sri Lanka's 77th Independence Day, the government announced the release of 285 prisoners under a special pardon, but Tamil political prisoners who have spent decades behind bars, were notably absent from those released.
The announcement by Commissioner General of Prisons Gamini B. Dissanayake confirmed that 279 men and six women would be freed. The prisoners eligible for the amnesty were primarily those incarcerated for minor offenses, with 33 being released from Wariyapola Prison alone. While these releases provided relief to some families, they failed to bring hope to the Tamil people, who have long awaited justice for their loved ones detained under draconian laws.
Among those excluded was Vigneswaranathan Parthiban, who has been imprisoned for 30 years without a clear conviction. His sister, Vaghini, has tirelessly campaigned for his release, submitting petitions to successive Sri Lankan presidents over the decades.
Despite Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s assurances during a speech in Vavuniya that his government would work toward releasing Tamil political prisoners, such promises have not materialised.
"On the 31st, it will be 30 years since my brother was arrested," said Vaghini. "He’s 50 now. What is the purpose of keeping him in prison any longer? We just want him home." Her plea echoes the sentiments of countless Tamil families who see no justice for their loved ones detained by the Sri Lankan state.
In January, during Dissanayake’s visit to Jaffna, Vaghini submitted yet another letter appealing for her brother's release. The response was a mere acknowledgment of receipt, with no further action taken.
"We have asked for his release for 30 years. On this Independence Day, please, release him. We have been waiting for this moment," Vaghini said, as she described her family’s ordeal.
Dissanayake had previously acknowledged that many Tamil detainees were imprisoned for political reasons, often without due process. He pledged to act on the Attorney General’s advice to facilitate their release. Yet, these words have done little to address the systemic injustices faced by Tamil political prisoners. Many of these individuals were detained under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), widely criticised by international human rights organisations for enabling arbitrary arrests, indefinite detention without trial, and torture.
The exclusion of Tamil political prisoners from the Independence Day pardon is particularly glaring given the government's acknowledgment of their plight.
“We are waiting,” said Vaghini. “This Independence Day, we ask for justice. Please release our brothers and give them the freedom they deserve.”
