Gnanasara Thera to Be Produced Before Colombo Magistrate’s Court Today (04)

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera is due to be produced before the Colombo No.01 Magistrate’s Court today (04).

He was arrested while hiding at an Aranya Senasana in Theeniyawala. Police also have discovered that the thera had changed his SIM card and vehicle in an attempt to remain hidden.

The Court of Appeal recently issued a warrant for his arrest. 

The warrant relates to four charges of contempt of court arising from proceedings in the Homagama Magistrate’s Court in January 2016, during the hearing of the case regarding the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

Gnanasara Thera was convicted on the four charges on August 8, 2018. The Court of Appeal sentenced him to 19 years in prison, to be served concurrently over a period of six years.

He was later released after former President Maithripala Sirisena granted him a presidential pardon.

The Supreme Court, hearing a fundamental rights petition filed by a group including Sandya Eknaligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, ruled on September 10 that the presidential pardon was invalid.

On September 29, a motion filed by the petitioners regarding the failure to implement the sentence against Gnanasara Thera following the Supreme Court ruling was taken up before the Court of Appeal.

Gnanasara Thera, who had been issued notice to appear before court, failed to appear.

The Court of Appeal subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest.