Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, who was hospitalized on Saturday (October 17), returned to the protest at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo on Sunday (October 18), warning that protesters would seek to elect a new President if the current President refuses to grant a pardon to Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera.
Addressing those gathered at the protest site, Kassapa Thera said their primary objective was to secure the unconditional release of Gnanasara Thera, who is currently serving a prison sentence.
He claimed that the government had misunderstood the protest, believing that the monks were attempting to remove it from power.
“The government thinks we have come to topple them. But the responsibility for releasing Gnanasara Thera lies with the President,” he said.
Referring to the President’s constitutional powers, Kassapa Thera said that if the President continued to refuse their demand, protesters would have to consider other options.
“If the President continues to act stubbornly, and if there is no other legal way to secure his release, what else can we do? We will have to elect another President, if necessary, to get it done,” he said.
Kassapa Thera also explained his decision to return to the protest despite being hospitalized the previous day.
He said he had refused additional comforts offered by fellow monks, arguing that they could not enjoy such privileges while Gnanasara Thera was suffering in prison.
“We did not come here to enjoy comforts. When Gnanasara Thera is suffering, how can we live comfortably?” he asked.
He said he had returned despite experiencing pain because he wanted to strengthen the ongoing protest.
The monks have been demanding the release of Gnanasara Thera, with protesters continuing their demonstration at Viharamahadevi Park following earlier protests near the Presidential Secretariat. (Newswire)
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