Court orders enforcement of remaining sentence against Gnanasara Thera
COLOMBO – The Court of Appeal on Monday (5) ordered the enforcement of the remaining prison sentence against Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, following his arrest on multiple outstanding warrants related to contempt of court charges.
Gnanasara Thera, who had been subject to an open warrant, was produced before the Court of Appeal by prison officials on Monday (5) following his arrest the previous day.
Upon considering the submissions, the Court directed the Commissioner General of Prisons to carry out the remaining period of the sentence previously imposed on the monk.
The arrest stems from a Court of Appeal order issued in connection with contempt of court proceedings linked to the court proceedings surrounding the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.
Officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) apprehended Gnanasara Thera and produced him before the Colombo Additional Magistrate in chambers on Sunday (4). Police informed the Magistrate that active warrants had been issued against the monk by the Court of Appeal, the Colombo High Court, and the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.
During Sunday’s proceedings, defence counsel Iresh Seneviratne, appearing with Pasan Karunaratne, stated that his client had been residing at an Aranya Senasanaya (forest monastery) while suffering from severe mental distress.
Citing recommendations by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks regarding special security for the monk, defence counsel requested specific measures to guarantee his client’s safety while in detention.
The Additional Magistrate remanded Gnanasara Thera overnight on Sunday, directing prison authorities to produce him before the Court of Appeal on Monday and subsequently before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (7) regarding the separate warrant pending there.
–ENCL
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