The Colombo High Court has upheld the nine-month prison sentence imposed on Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.
The sentence relates to statements made by Gnanasara Thera at a media briefing, which the court found had promoted discord between the Muslim and Sinhalese communities.
The High Court dismissed an appeal filed by Gnanasara Thera seeking to overturn the Magistrate’s Court judgment. The decision was delivered before the Colombo Additional Magistrate on Wednesday.
The Magistrate’s Court had sentenced Gnanasara Thera on January 9, 2025, to nine months of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 1,500 after finding him guilty of the charge.
Gnanasara Thera, who is currently serving a separate prison sentence, was produced before court by prison officials for Wednesday’s proceedings.
His counsel informed the court that a petition challenging the High Court decision has also been filed before the Supreme Court. The matter is scheduled to be taken up on February 23, 2027.
Meanwhile, the case before the Magistrate’s Court has been fixed for February 25, with prison officials directed to produce Gnanasara Thera before court on that date.
