The Colombo High Court has granted bail to Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), following an order from the Court of Appeal. This decision comes after a rigorous legal process concerning statements made by the Buddhist monk in 2016.
Earlier this year, Ven. Gnanasara Thera was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court. The sentence was based on statements made during a press briefing in Colombo in 2016, which were deemed harmful to national and religious harmony. In addition to the prison term, a fine of Rs. 100,000 was imposed.
Following the initial sentencing, a bail application filed at the Colombo High Court was dismissed. However, a subsequent revision petition was filed at the Court of Appeal. Last week, the Court of Appeal ordered the release of Ven. Gnanasara Thera on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two sureties of Rs. 500,000. The Court of Appeal also imposed an overseas travel ban on the monk and instructed the Colombo High Court to notify the Department of Immigration and Emigration accordingly.
Today, Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige issued the order to grant bail to Ven. Gnanasara Thera, adhering to the Court of Appeal’s instructions. This decision marks a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding the case.
Ven. Gnanasara Thera’s remarks in 2016 about the Kuragala Buddhist Temple were at the center of the case. The legal battle highlights the delicate balance between freedom of speech and maintaining national and religious harmony in Sri Lanka.
The Buddhist monk’s release on bail has been met with mixed reactions, reflecting the broader societal debates on justice, freedom, and accountability.
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