In a landmark judgment reinforcing the rule of law, Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has revoked a controversial presidential pardon previously granted to a high-profile hardline Buddhist monk, Ven Gnanasara, ordering his immediate return to prison to serve out his sentence.
Key Highlights
- Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court declared the presidential pardon unconstitutional and arbitrary.
- The court ruled that executive power cannot be used to undermine judicial decisions or bypass due process.
- Law enforcement authorities have been directed to re-arrest the monk to serve his original prison sentence.
The ruling comes after civil society organizations and legal bodies filed petitions challenging the executive pardon. The monk had originally been convicted and sentenced for contempt of court and inciting racial or religious violence. Critics argued that the pardon compromised judicial independence and promoted a culture of impunity.
The Supreme Court emphasized that while the president holds constitutional power to grant pardons, this prerogative is subject to judicial review and must be exercised reasonably and in the public interest. The verdict is being hailed by legal experts and human rights advocates as a major victory for accountability and equal protection under the law in Sri Lanka.