President Dissanayake rejects pardons to overturn court rulings

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that his administration will respect Supreme Court decisions and will not use executive powers to grant pardons or intervene to overturn judicial rulings. Speaking at a National People’s Power women’s rally in Badulla, the President emphasized that the government will unconditionally abide by the final determinations of the judiciary.

His remarks follow mounting pressure from opposition politicians and Buddhist monks for the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera. The Supreme Court previously invalidated a 2019 presidential pardon granted to the monk by former President Maithripala Sirisena, ruling it unlawful. Following this, the Court of Appeal ordered the enforcement of a six-year prison sentence for contempt of court.

President Dissanayake noted that while Parliament enacts laws and agencies like the police and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption conduct investigations, the final authority to interpret and apply the law rests with the courts. He remarked that the current enforcement of law against those who previously enjoyed undue protection has caused agitation, but maintained that the rule of law must be applied equally to everyone.