Court of Appeal orders Gnanasara Thera’s arrest

Wednesday, 30 September 2026 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera

The Court of Appeal yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera after he failed to appear before court in contempt of court proceedings.

The Court ordered that he be arrested and produced on 1 October, and directed that the warrant be executed through the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The order was delivered by a two-judge Bench comprising Court of Appeal Justices Mayadunne Corea and Lakmali Karunanayake, on a request by the Attorney General.

The Attorney General had filed a motion seeking the Court’s directions to give effect to a Supreme Court judgment annulling the presidential pardon granted to the Thera by former President Maithripala Sirisena.

Gnanasara Thera was not present in court but was represented by President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda.