President Ranil Wickremesinghe has granted a Presidential pardon posthumously to Duenuge Edward Henry Pedris , who was unlawfully executed by the British rulers in 1915.
The special Gazette notice announcing the Presidential pardon by the President was issued on Thursday (September 12) in terms of the powers vested in him under Article 33(h) of the Constitution.
Henry Pedris was unlawfully executed on July 7, 1915 after an unfair trial by a court-martial appointed by a proclamation issued on June 25, 1915 by the then Governor of Ceylon, Robert Chalmers.
The Gazette notification stated that Duenuge Edward Henry Pedris will be granted a posthumous Presidential pardon. Born on August 16, 1888 in Galle, Henry Pedris was a prominent social activist who lived in Ceylon during British rule, as well as a military officer of the rank of Captain who served in the Ceylon Defence Force and Colombo City Guard Force.
He was executed by British officials on charges of inciting the 1915 racist riots. These allegations were later proven false.
