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Colombo HC rejects Gnanasara Thera’s bail application
The Colombo High Court yesterday (02) rejected the bail application filed by the General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera.
Gnanasara Thera was recently handed a sentence of four years rigorous imprisonment for making a derogatory statement about Islam during a media briefing conducted in 2016.
The case was based on a complaint filed by the then MP Mujibur Rahuman and Azath Salley.
High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige conveyed the decision when the bail application was taken up.
On March 28, Judge Patabendige sentenced the BBS General Secretary to four years RI. The court found the monk guilty of the two indictments filed by the Attorney General under the Penal Code. Accordingly, the accused was sentenced to two years RI on each indictment and was also imposed two fines of Rs. 50,000 each. The judge also ordered that the two sentences be served separately.
Gnanasara Thera’s prison sentence will be extended by two more years in the event of his failure to pay the fine.
