I Did Not Go into Hiding Out of Fear of Court Proceedings: Gnanasara Thera

06-Oct-2026

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Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, said that he had gone to the Aranya Sonasanna Aramaya to meditate due to severe psychological distress and that he had not gone into hiding out of fear of court proceedings. He said he had gone there on the advice of Buddhist religious leaders.

Following the Court of Appeal’s order on 5 October 2026 directing that the six-year prison sentence imposed on him for contempt of court be enforced once again, Gnanasara Thera made these remarks in the presence of the media while he was being taken from the court premises in a prison bus under the custody of prison officials.

He said:

“Let this be a good lesson while working for the country. Everyone in this country works. I worked for this country. I am going to prison. I have no problem with this court. But I have worked selflessly for the past 25 years for the welfare of the people of this country and to save people from death. If necessary, as Jesus Christ said, eat my flesh or drink my blood. For 25 years, I have devoted myself to this country. There is something that no one knows.

“This was also raised in the judgment delivered by the High Court. Terrorists had planned to plant bombs at 100 locations. I have been speaking about this since 2014. Do these people have no humanity? Will these problems be solved by imprisoning me? Is this something to be afraid of? I suffered severe psychological distress from speaking the truth. Therefore, I went to the monastery and meditated.

“I went there on the instructions of Buddhist religious leaders, not to evade the court. Forgive me, I am in pain. I am also a human being. But the truth must be spoken. There is no room to speak. Nor can I keep silent forever without speaking the truth that remains in my heart. I have neither fear nor anxiety about it, and I do not lack happiness in speaking it. There is no fear in the blood of the South. A person dies only once. But we must work for the truth.”