Bandara backs pardon for Gnanasara Thero

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Shantha Bandara yesterday said he believes that President Maithripala Sirisena should granted a pardon to Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara.

“We personally believe Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara should be granted the Presidential Pardon,” Bandara told reporters at SLFP headquarters.

He said that he believes President Maithripala Sirisena would take the decision to grant Presidential Pardon to Gnanasara Thero at the most suitable time. He noted President Maithripala Sirisena had also considered the request of the Buddhist clergies to grant Presidential Pardon to Gnanasara Thero.

Bandara said that he would also request to President Maithripala Sirisena to grant Presidential Pardon to Gnanasara Thero.

Gnanasara Thero was jailed on 8 August 2018 for six years, after being found guilty of Contempt of Court over his conduct during a Court hearing regarding the case of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

Gnanasara Thero was found guilty of four charges filed by the Attorney General’s Department for his behaviour. He was convicted on four counts of Contempt of Court, receiving terms of four years each on the first and the second counts, six years on the third and five for the fourth, all to run concurrently.

In 2016, Gnanasara Thero had interrupted a Court hearing over the abduction of the journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, in which military intelligence officials were accused. The monk, disagreeing with the proceedings of the Court, shouted at the presiding Judge and lawyers as the accused military men were refused bail. The same day, he also threatened the wife of the missing journalist, Sandhya Ekneligoda. 

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