Sri Lanka, Oct. 13 -- Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva has described the six-year prison sentence imposed on Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera as unlawful, alleging that the case involved a conspiracy and questioning the legal process through which the sentence was imposed.

Addressing a Buddhist event, Silva said, the sentence imposed by former Court of Appeal President Justice Preethi Padman Surasena was illegal, arguing that it exceeded the maximum sentence he believed was permitted under the applicable law.

"The sentence imposed on Ven. Gnanasara Thera is completely illegal. I have studied this matter closely, and there is a significant conspiracy involved here," Silva said.

He questioned the circumstances under which the ma...