President Maithripala Sirisena has released Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera on a special presidential pardon, Asian Mirror learns.
Gnanasara Thera was convicted for Contempt of Court last year and was senteneced to a 6-year imprisonment.
The controversial monk's release follows a meeting he had with President Sirisena in Welikada prison over the weekend.
The Presidential Secretariat called for a report from the Prisons Department yesterday on the conduct of Gnanasara Thera while in prison.