The Colombo High Court on Tuesday rejected a bail application for Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), who was recently sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment. The decision was delivered by High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige during a hearing in which defense attorneys sought bail for their client.
Gnanasara Thero’s sentence was issued on March 28th following his conviction for making defamatory remarks against Islam during a media briefing in 2016. The comments, made in relation to the Kuragala Buddhist monastery, were determined to have adversely affected national and religious harmony.
The judge convicted Gnanasara Thero on two counts as per indictments filed under the Penal Code by the Attorney General. For each count, the court sentenced him to two years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000. The judge also ruled that the sentences would run consecutively, resulting in a total prison term of four years.
If the fines are not paid, Gnanasara Thero’s imprisonment will be extended by an additional two years. The case originated from a complaint filed by former Members of Parliament Mujibur Rahman and Azath Salley.
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