The appeal filed by Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero challenging the 6-year prison sentence in the case against him over Contempt of Court charges, has been rejected by the majority of a Trial-at-Bar consisting three Supreme Court judges.

The appeal was taken up before Justices Eva Wanasundara, Nalin Perera and Prasanna Jayawardena today (05).

Issuing the verdict on Ven. Gnanasara Thero’s appeal, Justice Eva Wanasundara announced that the appeal has been rejected based on the majority decision of the judge-bench.

The Attorney-at-Law representing Ven. Gnanasara Thero, President’s Counsel Rienzi Arsakularatne, informed the court that the verdict of the case is against the law as the four Contempt of Court charges against his client have been filed unlawfully.

However, Deputy Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya, who is representing the Attorney General, stated that the Court of Appeal possesses the authority to examine the Contempt of Court charges against Ven. Gnanasara Thero.

The Attorney General had filed the case against Gnanasara Thero following a complaint submitted to the Appeals Court by the former Homagama Magistrate and current Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake.

Former Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake had filed the complaint against the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation Ven. Gnanasara Thero for threatening Sandya Ekneligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda within the Homagama court premises.

Following a lengthy hearing, the Court of Appeal convicted Ven. Gnanasara Thero for the charges against him and sentenced by the Appeal Court to 19 years of rigorous imprisonment, to be completed within 6 years.