Leaders pardoned as per pact: Offender SL minister

New Delhi, Jun 10: The visiting Sri Lankan minister, Douglas Devananda, who found himself in the middle of a controversy as it emerged that he is a proclaimed offender in India, has said that all political leaders were pardoned as per the Indo-Sri Lanka pact.

He, however, said that he was prepared to face legal action, if it was required.

"According to the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement, they have given pardon to all leaders, all political leaders....If there is anything legal, I am prepared to face that," Douglas told media personnel on Thursday, Jun 10.

Devananda is part of the Sri Lakan president Mahinda Rajapaksa's delegation, during the four day visit to India which began on Tuesday, Jun 8.

The Sri Lankan Minister for traditional industries and small enterprises was declared an offender by a Chennai court for murder and rioting in Chennai in 1986.

On Wednesday, Jun 9, a PIL was filed in the Madras High Court seeking the minister's arrest.

The minister, however, can not be arrested as he is on a state visit and enjoys diplomatic immunity.

While senior government officials said that Devananda was not on the list of people who are banned from entering the country, the minister also maintained that his visit to India was legal.

OneIndia News