The Supreme Court has ruled that the presidential pardon granted to Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero by former President Maithripala Sirisena is invalid.

The ruling was delivered today (10) after the Court considered fundamental rights petitions filed by Sandhya Eknaligoda, wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, and several others.

Gnanasara Thero was sentenced to six years in prison by the Court of Appeal in 2018 after being found guilty of contempt of court. He was subsequently released following the presidential pardon granted by Sirisena.

The Supreme Court has now ruled that the pardon granted to Gnanasara Thero cannot be upheld.