Gnanasara thera appears in High Court; sources reject Newspaper report he was absconding

Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero appeared before the Colombo High Court on Wednesday in a case filed by the Attorney General over statements allegedly insulting Islam.

The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala, who ordered that it be recalled on Sept. 30.

Gnanasara Thero’s appearance comes days after the Supreme Court invalidated the presidential pardon granted to him by former President Maithripala Sirisena in 2019. The pardon had released him after he served around nine months of a six-year sentence imposed for contempt of court.

Meanwhile, The Sunday Island reported in its front-page news that prison officials had visited Gnanasara Thero’s temple on Nawala Road, Rajagiriya, following the Supreme Court ruling, but were informed by those present that his whereabouts were unknown.

However, sources close to Gnanasara Thero denied the claim, saying no such officials had visited the temple and rejecting reports that his whereabouts were unknown.

Police have separately said they are awaiting the Supreme Court judgment before determining further action following the invalidation of the presidential pardon.

The case in which Gnanasara Thero appeared before the Colombo High Court on Wednesday is separate from the contempt of court conviction and concerns statements allegedly made about Islam.