The Colombo High Court has ordered the release on bail of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organization, who was sentenced to nine months of simple imprisonment for making defamatory remarks against Islam.
The court issued the order after considering a revision petition filed by Gnanasara Thera, who sought bail pending an appeal against the sentence.
On January 9, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court convicted Gnanasara Thera under Section 291 of the Penal Code for violating ethnic harmony. The case stemmed from a statement he made during a press conference in Kirulapone on July 16, 2016, where he allegedly referred to Islam as “a cancer” that “must be eradicated.”
Announcing the verdict, Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena sentenced him to nine months of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 1,500.
The case has sparked widespread debate, with human rights and religious groups closely monitoring legal proceedings. The appeal process is now expected to move forward in the coming weeks.
