Homagama High Court suspends six month sentence of Gnanasara Thero to five years in Sandhya Ekneligoda case

The Homagama High Court today (Feb 8) suspended the sentence of six months rigorous imprisonment imposed on Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero for a period of five years. 

The sentence had been imposed by the Homagama Magistrate's Court after it found Gnanasara Thero guilty of threatening Sandya Ekneligoda, wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. 

Homagama High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja also upheld the guilty verdict on Gnanasara Thera delivered by the Homagama Magistrate's Court.

In 2016, Gnanasara Thero interrupted a court hearing over the abduction of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, in which military intelligence officials were accused.

The Thero, disagreeing with the proceedings of the Court, shouted at the presiding judge and lawyers as the accused military men were refused bail. The same day, he also threatened the wife of the missing journalist, Sandhya Eknaligoda.