Court Rejects Bail Application of Gnanasara Thera Over Defamatory Remarks on Islam

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has rejected the bail application filed on behalf of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, affirming his nine-month prison sentence for making defamatory statements about Islam.

Gnanasara Thera, the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), was sentenced to nine months in prison by Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, who also imposed a fine of Rs. 1,500.

The case stems from a statement made by Gnanasara Thera at a press conference in Kirulapone on 16 July 2016. He was charged under Section 291 of the Penal Code for promoting religious discord and disrupting communal harmony.