Uvatanne Sumana Thera, who was serving a life imprisonmen, has been granted presidential pardon by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the President's Media Division said.

The monk who was the chief incumbent of the Bodhirukkaramaya, Maligakanda, was charged under the Explosives Ordinance for being in possession of two T-56 automatic weapons and 200 bullets. The cache of arms was found at the temple during a raid in 2010.

Uvatanne Sumana Thera was also known to be a politically active monk.

The decision to release the monk came amidst speculations that former MP Duminda Silva would also be granted presidential pardon.