The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has temporarily lifted the foreign travel ban imposed on the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero until August 23, 2019.

The complaint against the Thero for allegedly obstructing police officers from exercising their duties within the Welikada Police Division, was taken up for hearing before Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana de Silva this morning (7).

The attorney appearing on behalf of the Thero informed the court today that his client had received a scholarship in Japan last year and that it is affective until the year 2020.

The attorney stated that his client requires to visit Japan to participate in the scholarship related activities and therefore requested the court to lift the overseas travel ban imposed on the Thero for a period as long as possible.

The magistrate stated that the travel ban can only be lifted until the date of the next court hearing and notified that if the Thero is unable to appear at court, the case can continue through his attorney.

Accordingly the case was ordered to be taken up once again on August 23 and granted permission for Ven. Gnanasara Thero to travel overseas until that date.

The complaint against the BBS General Secretary was filed by the Organised Crime Prevention Unit on the advice of the Attorney General.