Mihintala Thero is reportedly collecting 100,000 signatures for Ven. Gnanasara Thero to receive the President's pardon.

A special petition campaign to collect fifty lakhs (five million) signatures, requesting the government to grant a presidential pardon to the Venerable Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, was launched today (26) from the sacred grounds of Mihintale.

The Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, Venerable Dr. Walawahangunawewe Dhammarathana Thero, along with other members of the Maha Sangha, joined the occasion and were the first to sign the petition.

The Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, who requested President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take steps to grant a presidential pardon to Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, stated there that all collected signatures would first be handed over to the Mahanayaka Theros and subsequently presented to the President.

Gnanasara Thero, who had been sentenced to six years in prison for contempt of court, was granted a presidential pardon by former President Maithripala Sirisena in 2019. However, the Supreme Court ruled on September 10 that the pardon was invalid, and accordingly, further legal action concerning him is currently underway.