Maithripala Says He Was Misled Over Presidential Pardon for Gnanasara Thera
21-Oct-2026.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena has said that his signature alone was obtained for the presidential pardon granted to Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera without securing the approval of the relevant ministry.
“I was misled, and this led to complications in the Gnanasara Thera case,” he said.
Sirisena apologised to the Maha Sangha for the adverse consequences they had suffered as a result of the improper procedure followed by officials during his tenure as President.
He made these remarks in a special statement issued on the procedure followed in granting the presidential pardon to Gnanasara Thera.
In the statement, he further said that the court ruling concerning the pardon had pointed out a technical defect in the procedure adopted to grant it. He said he respected the court’s decision.
Two cases involving Gnanasara Thera had been pending before the Homagama Magistrate’s Court. The first, Case No. B 7417/10, concerned obstruction of court proceedings and contempt of court, with Article 105 of the Constitution also being relevant to the case. The second case bore No. 40042.
Approval from the relevant authorities was required before a presidential pardon could be granted in respect of these two cases. During his presidency, an official in charge of the Legal Division of the Presidential Secretariat had informed him that approval from the Ministry of Justice and Prisons was necessary.
However, steps were not taken to obtain the required ministerial approval. Instead, only his signature was obtained. He reiterated that he had been misled in this matter.
Legal proceedings involving Sandhya Eknaligoda and Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu were also pursued in connection with the presidential pardon granted to Gnanasara Thera. The court ruling in this matter had brought to light the procedural shortcomings in granting the pardon, he said.
Sirisena further stated that, owing to mistakes made by officials during his presidency, Gnanasara Thera had once again faced imprisonment.
Expressing regret over the impact of the incident on the Maha Sangha, he apologised to them in his statement.
