A special campaign to collect five million signatures for a petition seeking a presidential pardon for Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero began today (26) at the Mihintale sacred premises.

The Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, Venerable Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratana Thero, and members of the Maha Sangha participated in signing the petition.

The Chief Incumbent also appealed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to grant a presidential pardon to Gnanasara Thero.

Gnanasara Thero was sentenced to six years in prison for contempt of court and was previously released following a presidential pardon granted by former President Maithripala Sirisena.

However, the Supreme Court ruled on 10 September that the presidential pardon was null and void in law.