The extremist Buddhist organization in Sri Lanka, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) made a request to the President Maithripala Sirisena to pardon its leader Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero who was sentenced to prison by a Sri Lankan court.
The organization made this request at a media briefing held in Colombo.
The Court of Appeals on Wednesday sentenced the BBS General Secretary to six years of rigorous imprisonment Court after he was found guilty of four counts of Contempt of Court.
Expressing his views at the media briefing called by the BBS, the General Secretary of Sihala Ravaya Magalkandey Sudatta Thera said the presidential pardon should be given to Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero considering his ill health and the religious work of the Bodu Bala Sena organization.
Magalkandey Sudatta Thera said that if the President gives a pardon to Gnanasara Thero, he should accept it with dignity.
The General Secretary of Sihala Ravaya also requested the Maha Sangha to come forward patiently to get the Gnanasara Thero released from the six year-prison sentence
The Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was charged over statements he made and offensive behavior in the Homagama Magistrate court following the hearing of the habeas corpus case with regard to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda was heard in January 2016. The Thera will appeal the ruling, according to his Counsel.
