Gnanasara Thera Ordered to Appear Before Court Over Alleged Insult to Islam

26-Sep-2026

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The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena organisation, to appear before court and make submissions regarding the suspension of the enforcement of a further prison sentence imposed on him in connection with remarks allegedly made in a manner insulting to Islam.

The order was issued when the case was taken up before the Colombo Additional Magistrate on 25 September 2026.

During the proceedings, President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda, appearing for Gnanasara Thera, informed court that the convicted monk had not appeared in court due to illness.

The lawyer further pointed out that, following the dismissal of a revision application filed before the High Court challenging the decision of the Magistrate’s Court, an appeal had been filed before the Supreme Court in relation to the matter.

He therefore requested that the enforcement of the prison sentence imposed on Gnanasara Thera be suspended until the appeal is considered and concluded.

Having considered the submissions made before court, the Magistrate ordered Gnanasara Thera to appear personally before court and make submissions on the matter.