President Pardons Captain Edward Henry Pedris posthumously after 109 years
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has granted a posthumous pardon to Captain Diyunuge Edward Henry Pedris, who was executed 109 years ago after an unfair trial under British colonial rule.
The pardon was given in line with the President’s powers under Article 33(h) of the Constitution and was officially announced through a special gazette issued on September 12, 2024.
Captain Pedris, a respected military officer and social activist, was wrongly executed on July 7, 1915, following a court-martial ordered by the then Governor of Ceylon, Robert Chalmers, on June 25, 1915.
His death was part of a series of oppressive actions by the colonial administration during the 1915 riots, where he was falsely accused of provoking racial unrest.
Born on August 16, 1888, in Galle, Captain Pedris held the rank of Captain in the Ceylon Defense Force and served in the Colombo City Guard Force.
Besides his military duties, he was a prominent social figure in Ceylon during British rule. His execution by the British authorities remains a highly controversial moment in Sri Lanka’s colonial history.
The presidential pardon is a formal acknowledgment of the miscarriage of justice that occurred over a century ago.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has posthumously pardoned Captain Diyunuge Edward Henry Pedris, who was executed unjustly 109 years ago under British colonial rule. The pardon was granted through the President’s powers under Article 33(h) of the Constitution and was announced in a special gazette on September 12, 2024. Captain Pedris, a respected military officer and social activist, was wrongfully put to death in 1915 after being falsely accused of inciting racial violence during the 1915 riots. His pardon recognizes the miscarriage of justice that occurred and highlights his significant role in Ceylon’s history during British rule.
