The Court of Appeal issued a warrant for the arrest of Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero and ordered that he be produced before the court.

The court further directed that the warrant be executed through the Inspector General of Police, said Ada Derana reporter.

The order also directed that Ven. Gnanasara Thero be produced before the court on October 1.

A motion filed by the Attorney General seeking an order to enforce the prison sentence imposed on Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, whose presidential pardon was revoked, was taken up before the Court of Appeal today (29).

The motion was heard before a Court of Appeal bench comprising Justices Mayadunne Corea and Lakmali Karunanayake.

Ven. Gnanasara Thero did not appear before the court when the motion was taken up.

President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda, appearing on behalf of Ven. Gnanasara Thero, informed the court that his client was resting due to illness and requested a date to study the motion and make submissions.

However, State Counsel Sajith Bandara pointed out that the matter concerns a criminal case and requested the court to issue a warrant if the accused failed to appear before the court.

Following a request by counsel representing Ven. Gnanasara Thero for time to study the relevant motion and make submissions, the court adjourned the proceedings for a short period.