COLOMBO: In a landmark judgment, the Colombo High Court sentenced Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), to four years of rigorous imprisonment for making defamatory comments against Islam in 2016. The verdict also includes a fine of Rs. 100,000.
The charges stemmed from a media briefing held in 2016 at the Kuragala Buddhist monastery, where Gnanasara Thero’s statements were deemed harmful to national and religious harmony. The court delivered two consecutive two-year rigorous imprisonment sentences under the Penal Code, accompanied by a fine of Rs. 50,000 for each charge. Failure to pay the fines would result in an additional two years of imprisonment.
The court emphasized that Gnanasara Thero’s remarks disrupted religious harmony and highlighted his failure to uphold the responsibilities of a religious leader. This ruling holds particular significance in Sri Lanka, where legal actions against influential Buddhist monks are rare.
Following the sentencing, Gnanasara Thero appealed the decision. In July 2024, the Court of Appeal granted him bail until the revision petition’s hearing. Conditions included a Rs. 50,000 monetary bail, two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each, and a travel ban. Subsequently, the Colombo High Court adhered to the Appeal Court’s directive and ordered his release on bail.
This is not the first time Gnanasara Thero has faced legal consequences. In 2018, he served six months of rigorous imprisonment for intimidating Sandya Eknaligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, within the Homagama court premises.
The recent sentencing reflects Sri Lanka’s commitment to addressing hate speech and maintaining religious harmony. It also underscores the judiciary’s resolve to uphold the law impartially, irrespective of the individual’s societal or religious standing.
Source: Web Team, C6N
