Bodu Bala Sena general secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera failed to appear before the Court of Appeal today, with counsel informing the court that he is recovering in bed after undergoing gallbladder surgery.
The Court of Appeal had summoned Gnanasara following a motion filed by the Attorney General’s Department, seeking the court’s stance regarding the implementation of a previous sentence in an ongoing contempt of court case.
Despite making public appearances in recent weeks, counsel stated that Gnanasara Thera remains unable to attend court due to his post-operative condition, though he offered to present himself if deemed strictly necessary.
With the agreement of the Attorney General’s Department, the court decided to postpone the hearing until Gnanasara Thera is able to attend in person.
The proceedings stem from a contempt of court case filed against Gnanasara Thera after he disrupted court proceedings at the Homagama Magistrate’s Court in January 2016. During a hearing regarding the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, Gnanasara spoke out aggressively, shouting at state prosecutors and the magistrate.
In August 2018, the Court of Appeal found him guilty of four charges of contempt of court and sentenced him to 19 years of rigorous imprisonment, to be served concurrently over six years.
Gnanasara Thera served less than nine months of his sentence before receiving a presidential pardon from then-President Maithripala Sirisena in May 2019. Subsequent legal motions and challenges regarding the validity and execution of his contempt rulings have kept the matter before the appellate courts.