Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero has appealed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for a fresh presidential pardon, days after the Supreme Court invalidated the pardon previously granted to him by former President Maithripala Sirisena in 2019.

Speaking at the launch of his book, Navayay Paha Vikurthiya, at the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Mandiraya in Colombo on Sunday (20), Gnanasara Thero urged senior Buddhist monks to intervene and request a fresh pardon on his behalf.

He said he was uncertain about what would happen following the Supreme Court ruling, but stressed that he was prepared to respect the law.

“I don’t know how my fate has been written. This is not a time when I am afraid. Everyone has a responsibility to respect the laws of the country. I will bow to the law. There is no argument about that,” he said.

Questioning why he should face the consequences of any procedural errors made by officials in granting the previous pardon, Gnanasara Thero said the current President could rectify any mistake in the process followed by the former President.

“If officials made a mistake in the procedure, why am I being punished? The current President can correct any mistake made in the process followed by former President Maithripala Sirisena,” he said.

He appealed to senior Buddhist monks to seek a fresh presidential pardon, saying he should be given an opportunity to continue his religious activities.

Gnanasara Thero also spoke about his 87-year-old mother and expressed concern that he might not have another opportunity to see her if he is imprisoned.

“Sometimes we may meet again, and sometimes we may not. I have no sorrow about that,” he said.

He also rejected claims that he was acting on behalf of political figures, saying he was not a follower of any politician.

“We are not anyone’s followers. We are followers of the Buddha,” he said.

Gnanasara Thero further maintained that the legal proceedings against him had originated during the former Yahapalana administration and not under the current government.

He thanked those who had supported him over the years and sought forgiveness for any mistakes he may have made.

The Supreme Court ruled on September 10 that the presidential pardon granted to Gnanasara Thero in 2019 was invalid, raising questions over the enforcement of the remaining prison sentence imposed on him for contempt of court.