Supreme Court invalidates presidential pardon granted to Gnanasara Thera

The Supreme Court today (September 10) declared invalid the presidential pardon granted by former President Maithripala Sirisena to Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who had been jailed for contempt of court.

The ruling was delivered after the Supreme Court heard fundamental rights petitions filed by several parties, including Sandya Eknaligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

Gnanasara Thera, the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, was convicted of contempt of court by the Court of Appeal in 2018 and sentenced to six years in prison.

He was later released from prison on May 23, 2019, after then-President Maithripala Sirisena granted him a presidential pardon.