The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant a presidential pardon to Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera was arbitrary and invalid in law.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Janak de Silva delivered the judgment in response to fundamental rights petitions filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and Sandhya Ekneligoda, challenging the former President’s decision to release the monk from prison.

Gnanasara Thera had been sentenced by the Court of Appeal in August 2018 to 19 years’ rigorous imprisonment, to run concurrently as six years, after being found guilty of contempt of court over his conduct inside the Homagama Magistrate’s Court on January 25, 2016, during proceedings related to the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda.

The Supreme Court subsequently upheld the Court of Appeal’s finding of guilt on October 5, 2018.

However, Gnanasara Thera was released from Welikada Prison on May 23, 2019, after the then President Sirisena granted him a presidential pardon.

The petitioners challenged the legality of the pardon, prompting the Supreme Court to examine the exercise of the President’s constitutional power of clemency.

The Court’s ruling yesterday effectively nullifies the pardon granted to the BBS leader.

Viran Corea, PC, with Luwie Ganeshathasan and Khyati Wikramanayake appeared for the CPA, while Counsel Asthika Devendra, with Pulasthi Hewamanne, instructed by Manjula Balasuriya, appeared for Sandhya Ekneligoda.Counsel Thishya Weragoda, with Sanjaya Marambe and Iresh Senevirathne, appeared for Gnanasara Thera. Faiszer Musthapha, PC, with Pulasthi Rupesinghe, appeared for former President Sirisena.

The Colombo High Court yesterday served indictments on former Minister Duminda Dissanayake and a woman in connection with the discovery of a gold-plated T-56 assault rifle at the Havelock City apartment complex in Wellawatte.

Following the indictments, the High Court Judge ordered that both accused be released on bail.

Court records indicate that indictments had also been filed against Dissanayake and the same co-accused on September 9, after which they were granted bail.

The case relates to the discovery of the gold-plated firearm at the apartment complex in May 2025.

Two women, aged 40 and 68, were initially arrested in connection with the possession of the weapon, before the investigation was handed over to the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID).

Subsequent investigations by the TID led to Dissanayake being arrested and produced before court. However, he was later released after the Attorney General’s Department informed court that there was insufficient evidence at the time to proceed with legal action against him.

Text and Pic by Nishan S. Priyantha

Former Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited (AASL) Board member Professor Sonal Fernando yesterday asserted that commissions paid to aircraft buyers were included in the purchase price and that refusing such a commission could result in the cancellation of the transaction.

Speaking at a press conference at the Airport Garden Hotel in Katunayake yesterday (9), Prof. Fernando said buyers were therefore effectively required to accept commissions offered by aircraft manufacturers, their representatives or brokers.

He said aircraft could be purchased directly from manufacturers, through authorised representatives or via brokers, adding that transactions conducted through brokers or representative companies could be more financially advantageous.

However, describing the international aircraft market as a “mafia”, Prof. Fernando questioned the manner in which aircraft purchases were negotiated and carried out.

He also criticised plans by SriLankan Airlines to acquire Airbus A350 aircraft, describing the proposed purchase as a “foolish decision”.

Prof. Fernando said an Airbus A350 procurement deal had been prepared during his tenure on the AASL Board but was subsequently cancelled by the previous government.

He also maintained that there was no immediate need to modernise or expand the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, claiming that its existing facilities would be adequate to meet requirements for another 25 years.