Gnanasara Thero brought to Colombo - to court today

Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena organization, was arrested by the police last night (03) while hiding in a forest monastery in the Thiniyawala area. The police had to launch a special operation to find Gnanasara Thero because he failed to surrender to the police despite three warrants being issued, following a notification from the court.

After the arrest, Gnanasara Thero was brought to the Colombo Criminal Investigation Department last night itself, and is scheduled to be produced before the court today (04).

This arrest was made based on an open warrant recently issued by the Court of Appeal regarding the charge of contempt of court. The relevant warrant was issued ordering Gnanasara Thero to be immediately arrested and produced before the court, and concurrently, a travel ban was imposed to prevent him from leaving the country.

Gnanasara Thero, who had been sentenced to imprisonment for contempt of court, was previously granted a presidential pardon by former President Maithripala Sirisena. However, the Supreme Court, in announcing its decision on a case filed challenging that pardon, took steps to invalidate the said presidential pardon, and this new warrant was issued thereafter.

Gnanasara Thero, who had served only 7 months of a 6-year prison sentence and was released on an irregular presidential pardon, will now have to serve the remaining 5 years and 5 months of his sentence.