Gnanasara Thera reportedly threatened suicide while in custody

Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, is reportedly in severe psychological distress while in custody. Ven. Thiththagalle Anandasiri Thera, a monk leading a campaign for Gnanasara Thera’s release, claimed the imprisoned cleric threatened to commit suicide by consuming poison.

Anandasiri Thera stated he intervened to prevent the act and subsequently disposed of the poison. Despite past disagreements with Gnanasara Thera, Anandasiri Thera is now spearheading a petition for a presidential pardon from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He reports that over 225,000 signatures have been collected so far.

Anandasiri Thera also alleged that he has faced threats and offers of financial assistance intended to pressure him into abandoning the campaign. Gnanasara Thera remains a polarizing figure in Sri Lanka due to his previous inflammatory rhetoric regarding religious and ethnic issues.