Gnansara Thera to be assigned to prison printing section: Officials
by Norman Palihawadane Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera, who has been ordered by the court to serve the remainder of his prison sentence, is to be assigned to the prison ‘printing work party’, prison officials said yesterday. The monk was produced before the Colombo High Court yesterday by prison officials in […]
Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera, convicted of contempt of court, has been ordered by the court to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence. Yesterday, he appeared before the Colombo High Court, where prison officials presented him to the court in connection with a warrant issued by the court. Initially, the Thera objected to changing from his robes into the attire worn by convicted prisoners, but later agreed to wear the prescribed prison clothes.
Supreme Court annulled the presidential pardon granted to Gnanasara Thera in 2019, requiring him to serve the remaining portion of his sentence. After serving approximately nine months, President Maithripala Sirisena granted him a presidential pardon in May 2019. However, the Supreme Court ruling in September mandated his continued imprisonment.
The Thera was subsequently reported missing, leading the Court of Appeal to issue an open warrant for his arrest. On Monday, the Court of Appeal ordered the authorities to enforce the remainder of Gnanasara Thera's prison sentence. He has now been assigned to the prison 'printing work party,' according to prison officials.
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