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Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasinghe issued an arrest warrant yesterday (19) against Ven.Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena organisation, for failing to appear in Court. The case involved allegations of making statements insulting Islam and disrupting religious harmony.
The statements in question were reportedly made eight years ago, in 2016, during a press conference held in the Kirulapone area. The case, filed by the Colombo Crimes Division under Section 291 (a) of the Penal Code, was scheduled for judgement yesterday. The Magistrate had previously ordered on November 12 that the decision will be announced on this date.
However, when the case was called, Gnanasara Thera did not appear in Court. A lawyer representing him informed Court that he was receiving treatment at a Colombo hospital, which prevented him from attending. The Magistrate noted the absence and issued a warrant against the accused monk.
Additionally, a notice was served to the bail guarantor who had stood surety for the Thera.
Kalpani Abeysinghe
