BBS Leader’s Contempt of Court proceedings set for 21 Sept.

Saturday, 12 August 2017 00:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By S. S. Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeal on Thursday fixed the Contempt of Court case against Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera, who was present in Court yesterday, for 21 September.

The bench comprised Justices L.T.B. Dehideniya (CA President) and A.L.S. Gooneratne.

Senior Counsel Manohara de Silva with Anusha Perusinghe appeared for Gnanasara Thero. Deputy Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya appeared for the Attorney General as Amicus Curiae.

Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake filed the Contempt of Court action in the Court of Appeal against Gnanasara Thera seeking the Appeal Court’s constitutional jurisdiction against the monk for his offensive behaviour at the Homagama Magistrate’s Court on 25 January last year.

On that day Gnanasara Thera began to address open court after the court hearing pertaining to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda was over. Later on, Gnanasara Thera was arrested by Police on contempt of court charges as well as for obstructing Court proceedings and intimidating a public servant.

Through this Contempt of Court action, the Homagama Magistrate has sought the Appeal Court’s jurisdiction to consider whether the alleged offensive behaviour of Gnanasara Thera inside the Court amounted to Contempt of Court.

He further sought Court’s jurisdiction to take necessary legal action against Gnanasara Thera if the charges levelled against him amounted to Contempt of Court.