Where is Gnanasara Thera?Police pass buck to court
by Norman Palihawadane Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera’s whereabouts have remained unknown since the Supreme Court, on Monday, annulled a presidential pardon granted to him in 2019. Prison officers visited the Thera’s temple in Nawala, Rajagiriya, to take steps to return him to prison to serve the unexpired portion of […]
Gnanasara Thera, the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, has been missing since the Supreme Court annulled his presidential pardon in 2019. Prison officials visited the temple where he resides in Nawala, Rajagiriya, to initiate the process of returning him to prison for the remaining six years of his sentence. However, temple monks told the officials that they were unaware of his current location.
According to a police spokesman, a separate court order is necessary for the police to locate Thera or assist in his apprehension. Police have not received such an order yet. Meanwhile, insiders close to Thera claim he is set to appear at a book launch in Colombo the following day. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled that the 2019 presidential pardon, given by then President Maithripala Sirisena, was arbitrary and breached public trust and principles of natural justice.
Thera had been incarcerated for six years for contempt of court when the pardon was granted. With the annulment, the original sentence is now back in effect, and Thera must complete the remaining six years of his sentence. The ruling has sparked questions about the process for returning him to prison, as police and prison authorities have yet to take custody of him.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
