Colombo – The Fort Magistrate’s Court today issued a stern warning to Venerable Rajangane Saddharathana Thero, ordering him to refrain from using obscene and indecent language in public statements. The court also threatened to revoke his bail if he continues to violate the conditions set during his previous release.
Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura issued the directive after observing that the monk had persisted in using inappropriate language despite earlier bail terms explicitly prohibiting such conduct. The Thero had been arrested previously for making statements deemed harmful to religious harmony and was released on bail with strict conditions.
President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda, representing the aggrieved party alongside the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), informed the court that the monk had already been expelled from the Ramanna Nikaya, the Buddhist monastic order to which he once belonged. Despite this, he continues to wear monastic robes without official sanction.
Magistrate Lankapura noted that the Thero’s repeated violations warranted remand, but instead of ordering immediate arrest, she released him on the original bail terms with a strong caution.
The case originated from a complaint filed by Venerable Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thero, who accused Rajangane Saddharathana Thero of making inflammatory remarks that threatened social and religious harmony. The CID subsequently arrested him, leading to his initial remand and later bail.
The court’s latest warning signals a no-tolerance stance against speech that could escalate tensions, particularly from religious figures. Legal experts say the ruling reinforces the principle that freedom of expression does not extend to language that risks public discord.
Observers note that the case also raises questions about the accountability of monks in public discourse, especially those no longer recognized by their monastic orders. The court’s intervention highlights the judiciary’s role in balancing free speech with the preservation of communal harmony.
