Sri Lankan Buddhist monks suspend protest for jailed leader

A group of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka has temporarily suspended protests demanding a presidential pardon for Galagodaatte Gnanasara, a religious leader serving a sentence for contempt of court. The decision to halt the agitation follows an intervention by senior monastic prelates.

Gnanasara, the leader of the Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force), was recently returned to prison to serve the remainder of a six-year sentence. The protests, which included a march from Kandy to Colombo to submit a memorandum to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, also highlighted disputes regarding Gnanasara’s treatment in prison, specifically concerning his attire and disrobing.

In a joint statement, the four chief prelates of Sri Lanka’s three main monastic orders stated that continuing the protest would violate disciplinary standards and risk bringing disrepute to the monastic community. While the protest is paused, senior monks have reportedly assured protesters that they will discuss the possibility of a pardon with the government.