[REVISION HISTORY]

Protests and pardon disputes over Gnanasara Thera's prison

Updated 13 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-24 08:34 UTC → 2026-10-26 13:00 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following his arrest on October 3, 2026, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, has been remanded to serve the remaining five years and five months of a contempt of court sentence. ~~This legal action follows~~ The conviction stems from a ~~Supreme~~ 2016 incident at the Homagama Magistrate's Court ~~ruling that invalidated~~ involving the intimidation of judicial officers. The Court of Appeal ordered the enforcement of this term after invalidating a 2019 presidential pardon granted by former President Maithripala Sirisena, which the court deemed ~~unconstitutional and arbitrary.~~ unconstitutional. Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe defended the 2019 pardon, stating it addressed religious concerns regarding the removal of monastic robes. On October 13, reports emerged that Gnanasara Thera was in severe psychological distress. Ven. Thiththagalle Anandasiri Thera, leading a campaign for a presidential pardon from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, claimed the cleric threatened to commit suicide by consuming poison. Anandasiri Thera reported collecting over 225,000 signatures ~~for the petition~~ but also alleged facing threats and financial pressure. Meanwhile, six media organizations issued a joint statement condemning hate speech and defamatory campaigns targeting Sandhya Ekanayake. By late October, Buddhist monks and civilian supporters maintained a continuous Satyagraha protest at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. On October 22, Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero issued an ultimatum to President Dissanayake, demanding he either resign or grant an unconditional ~~pardon, warning of larger gatherings if demands are not met.~~ pardon. During the demonstration, police arrested an intoxicated retired army officer found with two sharp ~~weapons; protest leaders also alleged that armed individuals were sent to the site to shout abuse at the monks.~~ weapons. In ~~response to the ongoing demonstrations,~~ response, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court issued restrictions prohibiting protesters from obstructing ~~roads, walking paths,~~ roads or public spaces near ~~Viharamahadevi Park~~ the park and the Prime Minister’s Office. Additionally, the Ministry of Buddha Sasana confirmed that Gnanasara Thero would not appear in court wearing religious robes on October 23, following a court notification that such attire was not necessary for that day. On October ~~24, Chief Magistrate Asanga S.~~ 26, the four chief prelates of Sri Lanka’s main monastic orders intervened, leading protesters to temporarily suspend the agitation to avoid bringing disrepute to the monastic community.

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