Colombo, February 25, 2025 – The Colombo High Court has granted bail to Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, who had been sentenced to a nine-month simple imprisonment for making defamatory comments about Islam. The court issued this order after considering a revision petition filed by Gnanasara Thero’s attorneys, seeking bail pending the hearing of an appeal related to the case and the announcement of a final decision.
On January 9, 2025, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court sentenced Ven. Gnanasara Thero to nine months imprisonment over his defamatory statement on the religion of Islam. The Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena also ordered the imposition of a fine of Rs. 1,500 on the defendant.
The case was filed under Section 291 of the Penal Code, alleging that Ven. Gnanasara Thero acted in a manner that violated ethnic harmony by stating, “Islam is a cancer… it must be eradicated” during a press conference held in the Kirulapone area on July 16, 2016.
Editor Ceylon Watch