Gnanasara Thero absconding after SC ruling
Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was not at his temple in Rajagiriya when prison officials visited the premises yesterday to take steps following the Supreme Court ruling that nullified the presidential pardon granted to him, police sources said. Prison officials who visited the temple on Nawala Road, Rajagiriya, were reportedly informed by those present that […]
On the day following the Supreme Court's ruling, prison officials arrived at Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero's temple in Rajagiriya to address the nullification of the presidential pardon he received in 2019. Officials were unable to confirm his current whereabouts. The Supreme Court, comprised of Justices Janak De Silva, Dr. Sobhitha Rajakaruna, and Sampath B. Abayakoon, had declared the 2019 pardon of former President Maithripala Sirisena granting to Gnanasara Thero as arbitrary, a breach of public trust, and an affront to natural justice.
The court's decision was based on the belief that Sirisena, acting on the recommendation of the Additional Secretary (Legal), had not independently evaluated the pertinent evidence. The pardon was granted in 2019 following Gnanasara Thero's conviction on four counts of contempt of court in 2018, including his role in the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda in 2010.
The court affirmed that a pardon does not eliminate a conviction or sentence; it merely releases the offender from serving the sentence as specified. Despite the court's ruling, it did not permanently prohibit executive clemency, allowing for the possibility of future pardons granted by a subsequent president. The Supreme Court has previously overturned three presidential pardons, including those granted to former Presidents Duminda Silva and Maithripala Sirisena to convicted murderers Jude Shramantha Anthony Jayamaha and Royal Park murder convict Jude Shramantha Anthony Jayamaha, respectively.
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