BBS monk further remanded

Controversial Buddhist monk Galagoda Aththe Gnansara Thero was further remanded by the Homagama Magistrate yesterday, on the charge of threatening the wife of disappeared journalist, Prageeth Ekneligoda inside the court premises last month.

Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake previously placed the Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary back into police custody on Tuesday, saying he was unable to grant bail to the monk given provisions in the Witness and Victim Protection laws recently enacted.

Lawyers for Sandhya Ekneligoda argued again yesterday that the Magistrate did not possess the authority to grant bail to persons accused of threatening witnesses and victims under the terms of those laws.

Since provisions of the new Witness protection legislation were not clear, Magistrate Dissanayake ordered written submissions about the provisions by both parties to the case and further remanded the monk until 16 February. (DB)