Despite a joint appeal by the Chief Prelates of the Malwathu, Asgiri, and Ramanna Nikayas and the Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha to the President to grant Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera a pardon on Vesak Poya day in recognition of his efforts in promoting national unity and social support, the Thera was not among the prisoners granted freedom for Vesak.

In a letter to the President, the Chief Prelates had noted that Gnanasara Thera had been sentenced to four years in prison on 28 March, after being found guilty of causing discord during a media discussion about the Kuragala Rajamaha Vihara in 2016.

The letter had stated that Gnanasara Thera had taken steps to alert authorities about extremist activities in society and that his actions had provided crucial support to State security forces, helping to prevent the spread of some extremist groups in Sri Lanka. As a result, several potential extremist conflicts in Sri Lankan society had been averted, they claimed.

Meanwhile, the Hindu Federation of Sri Lanka had also requested the President to grant a pardon to Gnanasara Thera.

In a letter to the President, the federation had stated that some statements and behaviours of Gnanasara Thera had been misinterpreted or misinformed to certain democratic bodies of the Government by known and unknown elements and also mislabelled with the aim of shutting down the democratic voice of the Thera.