Court orders arrest of Gnanasara Thero

The Homagama Magistrate yesterday ordered the arrest of Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thero on charges of obstructing justice.

The controversial monk is accused of threatening the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, Sandhya Ekneligoda inside the Homagama court premises, criminal obstruction of justice and two other charges, lawyers said.



The BBS General Secretary attempted to intervene to speak on behalf of military personnel being investigated in connection with the Ekneligoda disappearance.

Counsel for Ekneligoda, Attorney at Law Upul Kumarapperuma said the Magistrate had refused to permit the intervention since the controversial monk was not a party to the case.

The monk had then raised his voice inside the court room and accused Government officials in court of being ‘eunuchs’. Addressing media outside the court house, Gnanasara Thero claimed that everyone had forgotten that there had been a war in the country. “Everyone is trying to betray our war heroes,” he charged.

Sandhya Ekneligoda told the reporters outside the court house that the monk had accused her husband of being a LTTE member. “Then the best thing for the monk to do is to find my husband and get the soldiers vindicated,” she said. (DB)