Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, has been sentenced to a nine-month light prison term by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.
The court delivered this verdict after finding Gnanasara Thero guilty of insulting Islam during a media conference held in the Kirulapone area on July 16, 2016. The police filed the case, citing that the Thero’s remarks violated ethnic harmony laws.
In addition to the light sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 1,500.
The verdict marks a significant ruling in a case that has drawn public attention for years, given its implications for interfaith relations and the enforcement of laws promoting ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka.
This sentencing underscores the judiciary’s role in addressing incidents that risk inflaming communal tensions and emphasizes the importance of maintaining respect for all religious communities in the country.
