The United National Party (UNP) has called on the government to grant an immediate presidential pardon to Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, urging that the matter be resolved through the intervention of the Chief Prelates of Sri Lanka’s three main Buddhist chapters.
In a statement issued on October 26, the party noted that the satyagraha campaign demanding the monk’s release had been temporarily suspended following instructions from the Chief Prelates.
The UNP referred to former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva’s interpretation that the maximum prison sentence for contempt of court is 18 months, claiming that Gnanasara Thera had already served more than 10 months in prison for the offence.
The party also recalled that the monk had previously received a presidential pardon following a request from the Chief Prelates. It further claimed that the Supreme Court had indicated in its judgment that another presidential pardon could be considered.
Meanwhile, the UNP criticised the government for obtaining court orders against Buddhist monks who had not participated in the protest march or satyagraha campaign calling for Gnanasara Thera’s release.
Describing these actions as serious mistakes, the party also called for an investigation into those responsible for ordering the removal of the monk’s monastic robes.
The UNP stressed that an immediate presidential pardon, facilitated through the involvement of the Chief Prelates, would help resolve the ongoing dispute.
