Full Breakdown
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court Revokes Presidential Pardon for Hard-line Buddhist Monk
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has annulled a presidential pardon granted to Galagodaatte Gnanasara, a hard-line Buddhist monk, and ordered him to resume serving the balance of a six-year prison term. The court’s decision follows his 2018 conviction for contempt of court and for intimidating Sanya Eknaligoda, the wife of missing political cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda. Gnanasara had served less than a year before former President Maithripala Sirisena issued the pardon.
Background & Context
Prageeth Eknaligoda disappeared in 2010 after producing cartoons critical of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. His wife has campaigned for an investigation into his disappearance, accusing authorities of inaction. Gnanasara, the leader of the Buddhist nationalist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), interrupted a court hearing to defend military intelligence officials accused of abducting the cartoonist. The monk has historically aligned with Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, both of whom later held the presidency. In 2025, Gnanasara received an additional nine-month sentence for insulting Islam and inciting religious hatred—an uncommon outcome in a country where Buddhist monks are rarely convicted.
Key Figures & Groups
- Galagodaatte Gnanasara – Leader of the Bodu Bala Sena, convicted for contempt and intimidation.
- Maithripala Sirisena – Former president who granted the now-revoked pardon.
- Sanya Eknaligoda – Wife of the missing cartoonist, activist for his case.
- Prageeth Eknaligoda – Political cartoonist who vanished in 2010 after criticizing the Rajapaksa administration.
Data & Statistics
Why It Matters
The court’s reversal underscores a rare willingness of Sri Lankan institutions to hold a Buddhist monk accountable, challenging the long-standing deference afforded to religious figures. It also revives scrutiny of the unresolved disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda, highlighting ongoing concerns about press freedom and political intimidation in the country.