Court of Appeal found Ven Gnanasara Thera found guilty of contempt of court charges

The Court of Appeal sentenced General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera to 19 years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) to be served in six years, for contempt of court charges today. The court also ordered the police to arrest Ven Gnanasara Thera who is currently admitted himself at Sri Jayewardenepura hospital. 

The verdict issued by two bench judges of Court of Appeal consisting Justice Preeti Padman Surasena and Justice Arjun Obeysekera found BBS Chief guilty of four charges of contempt of courts charged by Attorney General (AG) department over an offensive behavior of the monk at Homagama Magistrate’s Court on January 25, 2016 when the case hearing on the disappearance of journalist Pregeeth Ekneligoda was taken up. 

A request filed by lawyers appearing on behalf of BBS Chief pleading to postpone arrest of the monk considering his health conditions as he got admitted himself in hospital was rejected by the court. A spokesperson from BBS said they had forwarded an appeal to Court of Appeal against the verdict through Homagama courts.