By The Pulseline Neews Desk
Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero has appealed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for a fresh presidential pardon, days after the Supreme Court invalidated the pardon previously granted to him by former President Maithripala Sirisena.
Speaking at the launch of his book Navayay Paha Vikurthiya at the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Mandiraya in Colombo on Sunday (20), Gnanasara Thero has called on senior Buddhist monks to intervene and make a formal request to the President on his behalf.
The appeal comes after the Supreme Court ruled on 10 September that the 2019 presidential pardon granted to the monk was invalid, creating uncertainty over the enforcement of his remaining prison sentence for contempt of court.
Addressing the gathering, Gnanasara Thero has said he was uncertain about what lay ahead but maintained that he was prepared to abide by the law.
“I don’t know how my fate has been written. This is not a time when I am afraid. Everyone has a responsibility to respect the laws of the country. I will bow to the law. There is no argument about that,” he has said.
However, he has questioned why he should bear the consequences of any procedural errors allegedly committed by officials involved in granting the earlier pardon.
“If officials made a mistake in the procedure, why am I being punished? The current President can correct any mistake made in the process followed by former President Maithripala Sirisena,” he has said.
Gnanasara Thero has urged senior members of the Buddhist clergy to seek a fresh pardon from President Dissanayake, saying he should be allowed to continue his religious activities.
His appeal also took a personal turn as he spoke about his 87-year-old mother and the possibility that he could be imprisoned again.
“Sometimes we may meet again, and sometimes we may not. I have no sorrow about that,” he has said.
The BBS General Secretary has also rejected suggestions that his actions were motivated by political loyalties, insisting that he was not aligned with any individual politician.
“We are not anyone’s followers. We are followers of the Buddha,” he has said.
He has further maintained that the legal proceedings against him had originated during the former Yahapalana administration and not under the current Government.
Gnanasara Thero has also thanked those who had supported him over the years and sought forgiveness for any mistakes he may have made.
The Supreme Court’s decision has effectively removed the legal effect of the 2019 pardon and raised questions over the next steps concerning the sentence imposed on the monk. His latest appeal places the question of a possible fresh presidential pardon before the current administration, while the legal consequences of the Supreme Court ruling remain to be addressed.
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