Gnanasara Thero Sentenced To Prison

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo High Court sentenced Venerable Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero, who served as the general secretary of the Bodubala Sena organization, to four years of imprisonment with hard labor.

The charges against Gnanasara Thero stem from events that unfolded during a press conference held in Colombo back in 2016. 

He was found guilty on two counts, specifically for actions that were deemed detrimental to national and religious harmony.

The case against Venerable Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero was taken up in the presnece of Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabedige.

The Attorney General brought forward allegations, asserting that the accused had committed offenses punishable under Section 291 (b) of the Penal Code.

At an earlier session of the trial, the defendant, addressed the court from the dock, expressing remorse for any harm caused to the Muslim community.

Despite this statement, the judge noted that the defendant did not refute the allegations, and both charges presented by the prosecution were proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Consequently, the judge determined that the remarks made by the defendant, during the press conference were not inadvertent but rather deliberate and malicious expressions of religious animosity.

Highlighting the responsibility of a monk to uphold national religious harmony, the judge delivered a verdict underscoring that such inflammatory statements could exacerbate ethnic and religious tensions within the country.

The defense attorney for Venerable Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero argued that since his client had not committed any significant offenses subsequent to the amnesty granted by President Maithripala Sirisena after he was found guilty of content of court earlier, the court should take this into account and consider a suspended sentence instead.

In response, the prosecuting state'sattorney stressed to the court that verbal offenses carry greater gravity than physical harm, likening words to stabbing, and asserted that an apology following an act of violence does not diminish the seriousness of the offense.

After careful deliberation, the judge found Venerable Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero guilty on both counts presented by the Attorney General and sentenced him to four years of hard labor along with a fine of 100,000 rupees.

Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Indunil told News 1st that Venerable Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero was moved to the Welikada Prison.