Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero (Sinhala: පූජ්ය ගලගොඩඅත්තේ ඥානසාර හිමි) is the Secretary General of Bodu Bala Sena, a Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist organisation.
Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was educated at Wathuravila Aranya Senasanaya in Galle, before moving to Sarananda Piriwena in Anuradhapura and Vidyodaya University in Colombo.
[clarification needed][citation needed] In June 2017, the Police Organized Crimes Prevention Division arrested Gnanasara Thero on allegations of obstructing a police officer in Welikada, following a multi-week manhunt.
He was arrested after appearing at a police station to give a statement, and later released on bail.
[2][3][4] Gnanasara Thero was convicted of being in contempt of court, but was released on 23 May 2019 after having been given a Presidential pardon.