Gnanasara Thero presidential pardon fundamental rights case
Current status of the Gnanasara Thero presidential pardon fundamental rights case
Supreme Court fundamental-rights/constitutional judgment holding that then-President Maithripala Sirisena acted arbitrarily and beyond his constitutional authority in granting a 2019 presidential pardon to Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, who had been convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to a total of 19 years' imprisonment (to run concurrently over 6 years) for disrupting court proceedings and insulting the judiciary. The Court found the pardon violated constitutional procedures for clemency, the Public Trust Doctrine, natural justice, and the constitutional guarantee of equality, in part because Sirisena relied solely on advice from an Additional Legal Secretary rather than following established protocol. This is a non-criminal constitutional judgment reviewing an official act of the presidency — it is not a criminal case, charge, or conviction against Sirisena personally, and Gnanasara Thero's own underlying conviction is unaffected and remains on the record.
What’s happened
Judgment delivered 10 Sep 2026, invalidating the 2019 pardon. No further legal action against Sirisena personally has been reported as a result of this judgment.
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Next hearing / due
- No upcoming hearing announced