High Court Dismisses Gnanasara Thero’s Appeal

COLOMBO (News 1st): Venerable Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero’s appeal petition was today rejected by the Colombo High Court.

The Thero had sought to have the prison sentence and fine imposed by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, after he was found guilty of charges including making statements that disrupted religious coexistence, be set aside, and to be acquitted and released.

In relation to statements made at a media briefing in 2016 which were deemed derogatory towards Islam and harmful to religious harmony, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court had sentenced Venerable Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero to nine months of imprisonment along with a fine.

The Thero had filed an appeal before the Colombo High Court against that sentence.

Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne, delivering the verdict, stated that the decision of the Colombo Magistrate’s Court against the appellant defendant is upheld.