Tense situation outside Homagama Magistrate as Ven Galagodaatte Ganasara thera remanded

The General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Ven Galagodaatte Ganasara thera was today remanded until February 9 by the Homagama Magistrate over allegations of contempt of court.

The thera surrendered himself to court following an order by the Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dissanayaka after he disrupted the court proceedings in a case related to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. 

Soon after the order was issued to remand the monk, supporters of the BBS including monks surrounded the courts and protested with one of them sleeping under the Prisons bus preventing the removal of the monk.

More than 300 policemen have been deployed for security around the courts as monks chanted slogans. "Arrest us well" 'Release the patriot" , "Save our soldiers" were among the slogans of the monks.

Ven Ganasara who was not a party in the Ekneligoda case stormed the courts while the sessions were in progress and made a statement to say it was illegal to arrest soldiers (war heroes) in connection of the case.

State Counsel Dileepa Peiris said the thera was not entitled to make a statement as he was not a party of the case.

The Magistrate said that he will have to move away from the bench, unless the monk stopped interfering in the case.  The arrest order was issued subsequently.