Minister K. D. Lalkantha has stated that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will not grant a presidential pardon to Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, describing the decision as final.
Speaking to the media, Lalkantha addressed the calls for the Buddhist monk’s release and stressed that the law must apply equally to everyone, regardless of their religious status or personal connections.
The minister also highlighted the importance of respecting the people’s mandate and maintaining equal treatment under the law. He questioned why similar public attention had not been given to approximately 63 Buddhist monks reportedly serving prison sentences.
Lalkantha further argued that individuals should be held accountable for their actions rather than the Buddhist robe itself being treated as responsible for their wrongdoing. He maintained that punishing an individual should not mean undermining the dignity of the robe or the Buddhist Sasana.
The minister also suggested that certain political groups were using Gnanasara Thero’s situation to advance their own political agendas rather than acting solely out of concern for the monk or Buddhism.
His remarks come amid growing public debate over Gnanasara Thero’s imprisonment and appeals for presidential intervention. The issue has raised questions about religious identity, the application of prison regulations and the principle of equality before the law.
