Supreme Court Declares Presidential Pardon for Gnanasara Thero Invalid

The Supreme Court has declared the presidential pardon granted to Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero by former President Maithripala Sirisena as invalid. This landmark ruling was delivered following fundamental rights petitions filed by Sandhya Eknaligoda, wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, and others. Gnanasara Thero had been sentenced to six years imprisonment by the Court of Appeal in 2018 for contempt of court. The Supreme Court's decision effectively nullifies the pardon that had led to his earlier release.