{
  "id": 7934236,
  "title": "Gnanasara Thera declares outside High Court that he wouldn’t flee",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/gnanasara-thera-declares-outside-high-court-that-he-wouldnt-flee",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T00:03:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/gnanasara-thera-declares-outside-high-court-that-he-wouldnt-flee/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera faced the Colombo High Court on September 23, 2021, over allegations of insulting Islam. Gnanasara Thera, appearing before Judge Buddhika C. Ragala, stated that he was prepared to face the legal process and would comply with the law, dismissing rumors of him fleeing following the Supreme Court's decision. The Supreme Court invalidated the 2019 presidential pardon granted by former President Maithripala Sirisena, ruling it arbitrary and invalid on September 10, 2021. Gnanasara Thera had previously served a six-year sentence for contempt of court in 2018, related to his involvement in the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda. The case before the Colombo High Court, separate from the 2018 contempt of court conviction, centers on Gnanasara Thera's alleged statements about Islam. The proceedings are set to resume on September 30, 2021.",
  "summary": "Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera appeared before the Colombo High Court yesterday in a case filed by the Attorney General over statements allegedly insulting Islam. The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala, who ordered that it be called again on September 30. His appearance […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/7934236.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
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        "title": "Government appeals High Court ruling nullifying Safaricom share sale",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/government-appeals-high-court-ruling-nullifying-safaricom-share-sale",
        "published": "2026-09-16T21:45:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Free to practise religion of choice’: Allahabad High Court, orders youth who embraced Islam to be set free",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/free-to-practise-religion-of-choice-allahabad-high-court-orders-youth",
        "published": "2026-09-16T23:50:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RNZ Pacific",
        "title": "Seven cocaine bars disappear from Suva High Court exhibit room - Fiji Police",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/seven-cocaine-bars-disappear-from-suva-high-court-exhibit-room-fiji",
        "published": "2026-09-17T00:01:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}