Gnanasara Thera who apeeared for another's case ....
and shouted at the Judge ... arrested!
Having appeared at a legal case not pertaining to him and at the end of the case had come forward from a corner and spoken in a defamatory manner to both Judge and lawyers, Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera of Bodu Bala
Sena Organisation was ordered to be taken into custody by court for the offence of contempt of court.When the case relating to the disappearance of reporter Prageeth Ekneligoda was heard yesterday at Homagama Courts, this incident was reported. The said case was heard in the presence of Magistrate Mr. Ranga Dissanayaka. After the Magistrate ordered that the suspected 6 Intelligence Service officers were ordered to be further remanded and when the crowd who had assembled in courts were dispersing, it is said that Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera who had been in open courts had all of a sudden spoken out in a high tone. "Government officers of this low-grade government have imprisoned soldiers who rescued this land by destroying the Tigers!" he had uttered in a loud voice. Though the Magistrate had explained matters to Gnanasara Thera, it is said that the thera had not changed his opinion and had proceeded to make a speech for some minutes in courts. The thera who spoke out vociferously in that instance in courts in support of the officers who were suspected as being involved in the Ekneligoda murder had even gone to the extent of speaking against senior Attorney-at-Law Dileepa Pieris who appeared on behalf of Sandya Ekneligoda, in a degrading manner. On the occasion when the thera had tried to shout about and create a big commotion by saying "I won't allow these things as long as I am in robes!" the magistrate pointed out that action could be taken under the offence of contempt; but the thera had continued saying, "Yes ... give any punishment; we're prepared to accept it. We came because we can't bear these things!" Since court activities could not be continued any further, the magistrate had replied, "Then thera you make speeches here ... I'll go away". At that point what lawyers in courts had said was that Galagodaaththe Thera is not a party of the case and that when such a person shouts in courts , the magistrate should not mediate in such an issue.
A short while later the thera had left the courts-hall. What the Magistrate had mentioned on that occasion was that in accordance with the law he would have to arrive at a decision. As such Homagama Magistrate then ordered the police to take the General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena Organisation, Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera into immediate custody under the offence of behaving in a manner of disturbing activities of the open court and to produce him before courts. It was learned that because of this incident activities of the courts was disrupted for a period of almost half-hour.
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