Sri Lanka, Sept. 24 -- Several fundamental rights petitions challenging the presidential pardon given to ex-soldier Sunil Ratnayake were yesterday fixed for support by the Supreme Court.

Former Army Staff Sergeant R.M. Sunil Ratnayake, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the Mirusuvil murder case in 2000 had been released after he received presidential clemency.

Supreme Court Justice Priyantha Jayawardena recused himself from hearing the petitions, since he served as a member of the Supreme Court five-judge-bench, which heard the appeal petition filed by Sunil Ratnayake.

The Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice Yasantha Kodagoda fixed the petition...