Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, who was subject to an arrest warrant, has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) at the Thiniyawala Aranya Senasanaya in Kalutara, Sri Lanka Police said.
Ven. Gnanasara Thero was arrested in accordance with an arrest warrant issued for his arrest and production before the court.
The arrest warrant was issued after the Supreme Court recently invalidated the presidential pardon granted to the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Organization by former President Maithripala Sirisena over a contempt of court charge.
Gnanasara Thero was sentenced to six years in prison by the Court of Appeal in 2018 after being found guilty of contempt of court.
Ven. Gnanasara Thero was subsequently released after former President Maithripala Sirisena granted him a presidential pardon.
