<p>UNP parliamentarian and health minister Rajitha Senaratne welcomed the presidential pardon of Gnanasara Thero, leader of the extremist Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), adding that the UNP was of the same sentiment. </p>
<p>Speaking on the presidential pardon, Senaratne said,</p>
<p>“I think it is actually a good thing to release such people, instead of keeping them under arrest and creating an opinion in the country – especially as Buddhist monk. I said ‘whatever the law, don’t do such things. Don’t turn these matters into legal issues even in the future. Gnana Sara Thero used to attack me the most. He was the first to say I was corrupt. Of course he alter clarified the reasons for that. But despite all that, I did everything I could for him, since he is a Buddhist monk.”</p>
<p>Asked if this was a official UNP party position or personal view, Seneratne said,</p>
<p>“I think the party is of the same position.”</p>
<p>See more <a href="https://www.republicnext.com/politics/releasing-gnanasara-was-a-good-th…">here.</a></p>
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