SC Overturns Presidential Pardon for Gnanasara Thero

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Supreme Court today invalidated the presidential pardon granted by former President Maithripala Sirisena to Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, the Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, who had been sentenced to prison for contempt of court.

The ruling was delivered after the Supreme Court heard and concluded a fundamental rights petition filed by a group including Sandhya Ekneligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

Ven. Gnanasara Thero was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to six years in prison by the Court of Appeal in 2018.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena subsequently granted a presidential pardon, releasing Ven. Gnanasara Thero from the sentence.