Sri Lanka – Controversial Venerable granted bail
The General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), known for being a controversial monk, Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, who was sentenced to 4 years in jail in March this year, has been released on bail yesterday. People say that “the law should be one for all. We can not accept political bends.”
The Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero was given a four-year jail term for making slanderous remarks about Islam in 2016.
Nevertheless, the monk was granted bail by the Court of Appeal on Thursday, July 18th, following the review of a petition he had submitted.
The controversial monk was accused of making defamatory comments against Islam during a media briefing in the year 2016.
General Secretary Ven. of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) is Ven. Galaboda Atte Gnanasara Thero received a four-year jail term for delivering a speech inciting hatred towards the Islamic faith at Kuragala Temple.
Judge Adithya Patabendige from Colombo High Court also mandated Gnanasara Thera to pay a fine of Rs.100,000 for delivering hate speech about Kuragala Temple at a press event in Colombo.
The Attorney General brought charges against Gnanasara Thera for intentionally making offensive statements from November 1, 2016 to December 16, 2016 at Kirulapone, aimed at insulting Islamic beliefs and causing outrage among Islamic followers.
He was then famous for his close links with Wirathu, an extremist monk in Myanmar.
The judge in March found the monk guilty of the two indictments filed by the Attorney General under the Penal Code.
Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for each indictment and was imposed two fines of Rs. 50,000 each.
The defense attorney argued that Gnanasara Thero’s remarks were based on the situation that prevailed in the country at the time. However, the court ruled that the monk made the statement deliberately.
The court noted that the monk failed to fulfill his responsibility as a religious leader who is entrusted with maintaining inter-faith harmony.
END.
