Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa says the government will not bend or amend the law to accommodate any individual, stressing that the law must be applied equally to everyone, regardless of their power or social status.
Responding to questions regarding the ongoing protests by Buddhist monks demanding the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, Minister Jayatissa said the government remains committed to ensuring equal application of the law.
He stated that one of the key reasons behind President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s election victory and the government’s two-thirds parliamentary majority was public dissatisfaction with the unequal application of the law under previous administrations.
According to the Minister, the public had witnessed instances where ordinary citizens were treated differently from those holding political power or enjoying influential positions.
Jayatissa said the government had pledged to end such practices and ensure that the law is enforced equally, irrespective of an individual’s position or status.
He emphasised that this was not only an expectation of those who voted for the government but also of those who did not.
Responding to a question regarding requests for Gnanasara Thera’s release, similar to the presidential pardon granted under the previous Yahapalana government, Jayatissa stressed that the monk’s sentence was imposed by a court.
He noted that individuals have the right to appeal court decisions and that the relevant legal proceedings had already concluded.
The Minister maintained that the government is responsible for implementing court orders and cannot make exceptions based on an individual’s identity or social standing.
He further stated that the public does not expect the government to alter or adjust the law for the benefit of a single individual, adding that all decisions would be made in accordance with established legal procedures.
Meanwhile, Buddhist monks have been staging protests demanding the release of Gnanasara Thera, following a protest march titled “Justice for the Robe – Freedom March,” which commenced from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy on October 10.
The protesters arrived outside the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on October 15 and remained overnight, demanding a definite response from the government.
However, following a court order prohibiting protests at the location, the monks removed their temporary shelters and subsequently proceeded to the Ministry of Buddhasasana today (16).
The Ministry provided an opportunity for discussions, with four representatives of the protesting monks participating in the meeting.
The members of the Maha Sangha, who engaged in discussions at the Ministry of Buddhasasana, have stated that they would remain at Viharamahadevi Park until Ven. Gnanasara Thero is released. (Newswire)
ඥානසාර හිමිට නිදහස ලැබෙයිද ?
“නීතිය නවන එක ජනතාව මේ ආණ්ඩුවෙන් බලාපොරොත්තු වෙන්නේ නෑ”
නලින්ද දීපූ පිළිතුර මෙන්න https://t.co/nZYQbtaLxi— Ada Derana Sinhala (@adaderanasin) October 16, 2026
