State Minister of Social Empowerment, Anupa Pasqual says president Ranil Wickremesinghe should consider a presidential pardon for Gnanasara, a convicted racist Buddhist monk, following his recent sentencing.
This comes days after Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara was sentenced to four years in prison. Sri Lanka's high court recently rejected a bail application filed by the monk. The judge had stated that the counsels had failed to present any special circumstances before the Court that would warrant the release of Gnanasara on bail.
The defence had urged the Colombo High Court to consider an appeal given the extended delays in concluding appeal hearings and based on the health condition of the monk.
Gnanasara was admitted to the Welikada Prison Hospital upon receiving his sentence. Reports said he was undergoing medical treatment before the verdict. The Colombo High Court judge rejected the bail application meaning that Gnanasara will now have to go back to Welikada prison where he will begin serving his sentence until his case is taken up before appeal courts.
On 28 March, the Colombo High Court sentenced Gnanasara to four years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 100 000 over a contentious statement made by him about Islam and Muslims in 2016 at a press conference. Despite the Buddhist monk’s apology to the Muslim community in February, the Judge concluded that the defendant’s remarks during the press conference were not accidental but intentional and malicious expressions of religious animosity.
State Minister of Social Empowerment, Anupa Pasqual says President Ranil Wickremesinghe must consider a Presidential pardon for BBS General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero.
— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) April 1, 2024
He says the monk played a crucial role in exposing extremism in Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/YhBy9b0Los
