Arrest Galagodaaththe Gnanasara on sight - Third warrant also issued

The Court of Appeal has issued an open warrant for the immediate arrest and production before court of Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, Secretary General of the Bodu Bala Sena organization, who has been sentenced to imprisonment on charges of contempt of court. The Court of Appeal order further emphasized that the responsibility of executing the said open warrant should be carried out through the Inspector General of Police.

Concurrently, it is reported that the Court of Appeal has also imposed a strict travel ban preventing Gnanasara Thero from leaving the country. The court further ordered the relevant authorities to promptly inform the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration regarding this order.

Gnanasara Thero, who was sentenced for contempt of court, served a very short prison term and improperly obtained a presidential pardon. Following the renewal of that case, he is now due to be arrested again and is expected to be imprisoned for five and a half years. Having been missing for several days, he reappeared at a book launch event, but is now missing again. Consequently, a second warrant has also been issued due to his non-appearance at the next court hearing related to the charge of insulting Islam. 

A campaign to collect one hundred thousand signatures requesting a pardon for the Thero, who has been continuously evading court, has been launched by the Mihintale Thero.