Gnanasara Thera jailed for six years after Supreme Court annuls pardon

Tuesday, 6 October 2026 07:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera was sent to Welikada Prison yesterday after the Court of Appeal ordered the six-year prison sentence imposed on him for contempt of court to take effect immediately, following a Supreme Court judgment annulling the presidential pardon granted to him by former President Maithripala Sirisena.

A two-judge bench comprising Court of Appeal Justices Mayadunne Corea and Lakmali Karunanayake made the order on a motion by the Attorney General, who sought an order giving effect to the Supreme Court judgment.

The bench directed the Commissioner General of Prisons to take the necessary steps to implement the sentence, after Gnanasara Thera was produced before court by prison officials. An open warrant had previously been issued for his arrest in connection with the enforcement of the sentence. He was taken to Welikada Prison following the order.

Gnanasara Thera was convicted of contempt of court by the Court of Appeal in August 2018 and sentenced to six years of rigorous imprisonment. He was released in May 2019 after Sirisena granted him a presidential pardon.