Former President Maithripala Sirisena has claimed that officials at the Presidential Secretariat misled him during the process of granting a presidential pardon to Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, resulting in a technical error that eventually led to the monk’s reimprisonment.
In a statement issued on October 19, Sirisena said he had studied a copy of the relevant court judgment and understood that a technical defect in documents submitted by the Presidential Secretariat had contributed to the court’s decision.
He said Gnanasara Thera had faced two cases before the Homagama Magistrate’s Court, identified as B 7417/10 and 40042.
According to Sirisena, the additional senior secretary in charge of legal affairs at the Presidential Secretariat had informed him that approval from the Ministry of Justice and Prisons was required in connection with the pardon.
However, he alleged that the necessary documents were never forwarded to the ministry and that his signature was obtained without securing the required approval.
“This was misleading me,” Sirisena said.
The former President claimed that the error committed by officials during his presidency had ultimately resulted in Gnanasara Thera being imprisoned again, following legal proceedings initiated through a complaint by Sandya Ekneligoda involving an organization associated with Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu.
Sirisena said he respected the court’s decision and accepted that the judgment was correct.
He also apologized to the Buddhist clergy for the mistake, although he maintained that it had been committed by officials serving under his administration.
The former President said he issued the statement following inquiries from Buddhist monks, journalists and members of the public seeking clarification about the technical error that affected the presidential pardon. (Newswire)
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