Sri Lanka, Sept. 11 -- The Supreme Court has invalidated the presidential pardon granted to Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Venerable Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera by former President Maithripala Sirisena, stressing that executive power is held in trust and must be exercised in the public interest. Delivering the judgment, Justice Janak De Silva observed that a presidential pardon is a constitutional power derived from the sovereignty of the People, rather than a private act of grace used for personal, political, or self-serving interests.

The court highlighted that neither the Presidential Secretariat records nor former President Maithripala Sirisena's affidavit provided any reasons for granting the pardon. Justice Janak De Silva stres...