The Colombo High Court has upheld the nine-month prison sentence imposed on Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.
The sentence relates to a case over statements made by Gnanasara Thera at a media briefing that were found to have promoted discord between Muslims and Sinhalese
The High Court dismissed an appeal filed by Gnanasara Thera seeking to overturn the Magistrate’s Court ruling, with the decision being read out before the Colombo Additional Magistrate on Wednesday.
The Magistrate’s Court had sentenced Gnanasara Thera on Jan. 9, 2025, to nine months’ simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 1,500 after finding him guilty of the charge.
Gnanasara Thera, who is currently serving a separate prison sentence, was produced before court by prison officials for Wednesday’s proceedings.
His counsel informed court that an application challenging the ruling has also been filed before the Supreme Court and that the matter is scheduled to be considered on Feb. 23, 2027.
The case before the Magistrate’s Court was subsequently fixed for Feb. 25, with prison officials directed to produce Gnanasara Thera before court on that date. (Newswire)
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