Supreme Court declares Gnanasara Thero’s presidential pardon invalid

The Supreme Court has ruled that the presidential pardon granted to the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Organisation Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero by former President Maithripala Sirisena is invalid.

The ruling was delivered today (10) after the Supreme Court considered fundamental rights petitions filed by Sandhya Eknaligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda and several others.

Gnanasara Thero was sentenced to six years in prison by the Court of Appeal in 2018 after being found guilty of contempt of court.

Gnanasara Thero was subsequently released after former President Maithripala Sirisena granted him a presidential pardon.

The Supreme Court has now ruled that the pardon granted to Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero cannot be upheld.