World · Sri Lanka Bureau
President Sirisena apologises to Buddhist clergy over Gnanasara pardon error
President Maithripala Sirisena has tendered an apology to the Maha Sangha following a technical mishap in the presidential pardon granted to Buddhist monk Gnanasara Thera.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The President's office acknowledged the administrative error that occurred during the processing of the pardon, which was intended to address concerns within the Buddhist clergy regarding the monk's legal status.
The apology was conveyed to the Maha Sangha, Sri Lanka's highest Buddhist ecclesiastical body, as part of efforts to rectify the procedural lapse. The technical issue had resulted in complications affecting the formal documentation and implementation of the pardon.
President Sirisena's decision to formally apologise reflects the significance accorded to relations with the Buddhist establishment in the country. The Maha Sangha holds considerable influence in Sri Lankan political and social affairs, and maintaining strong institutional relations remains a priority for the administration.
The clarification and apology are expected to resolve concerns that had been raised by senior Buddhist clergy members regarding the proper execution of the presidential pardon. Officials indicated that corrective measures would be implemented to ensure the matter is fully resolved.