For the third time, the court has imposed a prison sentence for Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero, the General Secretary of the “Bodu Bala Sena” organization, with allegations of insulting Islam and disturbing religious harmony.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara, who declared the accused guilty and imposed a light prison sentence of 9 months along with a fine of 1500 rupees on January 9th.
The Additional Magistrate further stated that the allegations made against the defendant regarding the religious insults were proven by the complainants and their evidence. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero was found guilty of making statements that caused religious disharmony during a media discussion held on July 6, 2016, in Kirulapone. He was charged under Section 291(A) of the Penal Code for committing an offense that warrants punishment.
The verdict was delivered after the accused appeared in court. The magistrate referred to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, particularly Article 19, which ensures the freedom of religion, belief, and thought for all citizens. He noted that, while Buddhism is recognized as the foremost religion in Sri Lanka, Article 9, 10, and 14 protect the rights of individuals to practice other religions, such as Islam, freely. However, the magistrate emphasized that religious criticism or insult is not allowed and that such actions are criminal under Section 291 of the Penal Code.
During the media discussion that formed the basis of the charges, Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero made a derogatory comment about Islam.
The magistrate ruled that such statements were a violation of the law and declared the accused guilty.
Regarding the severity of the punishment, the magistrate explained that under the applicable law, a maximum sentence of two years of imprisonment and a fine could be imposed for this offense. Additionally, if the fine is not paid, the sentence could be extended for another month.
Gnanasara Thero’s lawyer, Gamini Alwis, presented a plea for a reduction in the sentence, citing his client’s health condition and efforts to reintegrate into society. However, the magistrate rejected the request for bail, stating that the presented health concerns did not constitute a special condition justifying bail.
This marks the third time Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero has been sentenced to prison. Previously, he was convicted for his disruptive involvement in the court proceedings abduction and murder of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, and later granted a presidential pardon.
In another case, he was sentenced to four years of imprisonment for insulting other religions, though he has appealed against these decisions.
