Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera has called on senior Buddhist monks to request President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to grant him a fresh presidential pardon, after the Supreme Court invalidated the pardon previously granted to him by former President Maithripala Sirisena.
Gnanasara Thera had been sentenced to six years in prison for contempt of court arising from his conduct at the Homagama Magistrate’s Court during proceedings linked to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.
The Supreme Court recently invalidated the presidential pardon granted to him by former President Sirisena. As a result, Gnanasara Thera faces having to return to prison to serve the remaining approximately five-and-a-half years of his sentence.
Following the Supreme Court ruling, reports emerged that Gnanasara Thera could not be located, with reports claiming that prison officials had visited his temple on Nawala Road, Rajagiriya, but had been unable to find him.
However, his representatives rejected the reports, maintaining that prison officials had not visited the temple and denying claims that the Thera was in hiding.
Meanwhile, Gnanasara Thera met the Mahanayake Theras of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters on 17 September.
He subsequently appeared before the Colombo High Court on 18 September in connection with a separate case filed by the Attorney General over statements allegedly insulting Islam. High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala ordered that the case be called again on 30 September.
Police have said they are awaiting the full Supreme Court judgment on the invalidation of the presidential pardon before deciding on further action.
Speaking at the launch of his book 9.5 Vikurthiya at the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Mandiraya in Thummulla, Colombo, on 20 September, Gnanasara Thera made a special appeal to the Maha Sangha.
He urged senior Buddhist monks to request President Dissanayake to grant him a fresh presidential pardon through the proper procedure, after rectifying what he described as administrative errors committed by officials when former President Sirisena granted him the earlier pardon.
Gnanasara Thera said he respected both the law and Buddhist principles, but argued that if there had been procedural errors, responsibility for them rested with the officials concerned and that it would be unfair to penalise him for those mistakes.
He said he was not afraid of returning to prison, but claimed that such action could discourage young Buddhist monks from speaking out on behalf of the country and the Buddha Sasana in the future.
Referring to the uncertainty surrounding his situation, Gnanasara Thera said he had even considered having a jeewa pansukula — a Buddhist funeral-type religious observance performed while a person is still alive — conducted for him in the presence of his 87-year-old mother.
Among those present at the book launch were Deputy Chief Prelate of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha Prof. Ven. Kotapitiye Rahula Thera, Chief Secretary of the Asgiri Chapter Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thera, other members of the Maha Sangha, politicians and representatives of civil society organisations.
