Sarvajana Balaya Chairman Roshan Ranasinghe has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to grant a presidential pardon to Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, who is currently serving a prison sentence.

Speaking on Ada Derana’s 360 programme on 26 October, Ranasinghe stated that he was making the request both as party chairman and in his personal capacity.

He also referred to former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to pardon Gnanasara Thero, citing a request from the Mahanayake Theros and the public mandate as reasons behind that decision.