LEN - www.lankaenews.com | Religious Extremists Allied with the Rajapaksa Regime Face Contempt of Court Charges

Religious Extremists Allied with the Rajapaksa Regime Face Contempt of Court Charges

By Ruwan Weerakoon

Supreme Court Invalidates Presidential Pardon of Gnanasara Thero

(Lanka-e-News -10.Sep.2026,11.00 PM) The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ruled on September 10 that the presidential pardon granted by former President Maithripala Sirisena to Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), is null and void. The verdict follows Fundamental Rights petitions filed by Sandya Ekneligoda—wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda—alongside several other petitioners.

Background and Legal Proceedings

January 2016 Incident: During a hearing for the Prageeth Ekneligoda disappearance case at the Homagama Magistrate's Court, Gnanasara Thero engaged in disruptive behavior, insulted state counsel, and committed contempt of court.

Judicial Referral: Former Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake referred the matter to the Court of Appeal, leading the Attorney General to file a formal charge sheet.

August 2018 Conviction: The Court of Appeal found the BBS leader guilty on four counts of contempt of court, sentencing him to a 19-year prison sentence to be served concurrently over 6 years.

Executive Intervention & Challenge: President Maithripala Sirisena subsequently issued a full presidential pardon to release Gnanasara Thero, a decision that has now been officially quashed by the apex court.