The Colombo High Court today upheld the prison sentence imposed on the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, by the Colombo Magistrate's Court.

The Colombo High Court today upheld the prison sentence imposed on the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, by the Colombo Magistrate's Court.

The Colombo High Court today upheld the nine-month prison sentence and the fine of Rs. 1,500 imposed on the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, by the Colombo Magistrate's Court after he was found guilty of acting in a manner that disrupted communal harmony by making a statement insulting Islam.

Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Tilakaratne delivered the verdict, dismissing an appeal filed by Gnanasara Thero seeking his acquittal and release from the said prison sentence, said Ada Derana reporter.

The Police had filed a case against Gnanasara Thero under the Penal Code, accusing him of acting in a manner that disrupted communal harmony by making a statement insulting Islam during a press conference held in the Kirulapone area in 2016.

Following a trial, the Colombo Magistrate's Court found Gnanasara Thero guilty of the charge and sentenced him to a nine-month prison term and a fine of Rs. 1,500 on January 9, 2025.

Subsequently, Gnanasara Thero filed an appeal before the Colombo High Court.

Delivering the verdict after considering the appeal, the High Court Judge noted that issuing statements in a manner that breaches religious harmony constitutes an unlawful act.

The Judge further stated that preventing such actions is a responsibility of both the law and the judicial process.

Accordingly, the High Court Judge observed that the decision taken by the Colombo Additional Magistrate to convict and sentence the accused was not contrary to the law.

The High Court Judge further stated in the verdict that the appeal filed against the conviction of the accused was therefore dismissed.