Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera was remanded till February 9 by Homagama Magistrate’s Court a short while ago on Tuesday January 26th.He was arrested this morning when he surrendered to the Homagama Police.
The Homagama Magistrate issued an arrest warrant against Gnanasara Thera yesterday on three charges including threatening a state official, obstructing the court proceedings and contempt of court. He addressed the court yesterday immediately after the case on the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda was taken up.
The incident which led to the arrest warrant occurred immediately after the court proceedings were concluded on the Eknaligoda case. Gnanasara Thera started addressing the court, alleging that the arrest of Army Intelligence officials regarding the Eknaligoda disappearance was illegal.
Pointing to Senior State Counsel Dileepa Peris, he claimed that they should be arrested for urging for the “illegal arrests” of military officers.
The Senior State Counsel responded by saying such incidents should not take place inside a court room.
Meanwhile, Attorney-at-Law Upul Kumarapperuma also requested the Magistrate to take necessary action.
The Magistrate made the order after taking into consideration the statements issued by the monk at the court and the requests by the lawyers.
Protesting Buddhist Monks Surround Homagama Magistrate Court Premises
A group of Buddhists monks has surrounded Homagama Magistrate Court, protesting against the decision to remand Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero till February 9.
Some of them tried to enter the court premises, but were prevented by the police who closed the gates to prevent unauthorized entry.Thereafter, several monks jumped over the wall to court premises.
About 300 police officers, and the riot police and water cannon vehicles arrived at the Court premises to control the situation.
Gnanasara Thera was remanded on three charges including threatening public officials, obstructing court proceedings and contempt of court.
Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Arrested Following Surrender to Police
Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera was arrested following his surrender to Homagama Police this morning.
He had been summoned to the police at 10.00 a.m. today, following an arrest warrant issued by the Homagama Magistrate yesterday.
The Homagama Magistrate issued an arrest warrant against Gnanasara Thera on three charges including threatening a state official, obstructing the court proceedings and contempt of court. He addressed the court yesterday immediately after the case on the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda was taken up.
Gnanasara Thera Ordered to Report to Homagama Police on 26th Morninng
Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera has been asked to report to the Homagama Police at 10.00 a.m. today, following the issue of an arrest warrant against him yesterday.
The Homagama Magistrate issued an arrest warrant against Gnanasara Thera on three charges including threatening a state official, obstructing the court proceedings and contempt of court. He addressed the court yesterday immediately after the case on the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda was taken up.
Arguing that the arrest of military intelligence personnel over the incident was illegal, Gnanasara Thera urged the arrest of the representives of the Attorney General’s Department for instructing the “illegal arrests”.
Arrest Warrant Issued Against Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera by Homagama Magistrate
The Homagama Magistrate ordered Police to arrest Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, General secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena organization, with immediate effect.
The Magistrate made this order when the habeas corpus case with regard to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda was taken up for hearing today.
The Magistrate also ordered the Police to produce the monk before court.
The incident occurred immediately after the court proceedings were concluded on the Eknaligoda case. Gnanasara Thera started addressing the court, alleging that the arrest of Army Intelligence officials regarding the Eknaligoda disappearance was illegal. Pointing to Senior State Counsel Dileepa Peris, he claimed that they should be arrested for urging for the “illegal arrests” of military officers.
The Senior State Counsel responded by saying such incidents should not take place inside a court room.
Meanwhile, Attorney-at-Law Upul Kumarapperuma also requested the Magistrate to take necessary action.
The Magistrate made the order after taking into consideration the statements issued by the monk at the court and the requests by the lawyers.
The Magistrate observed that the monk, by making those statement, had obstructed the work of state officials and attempted to threaten them.
(Compiled from News Reports Appearing in “Asian Mirror”)