Special treatment to  Gnanasara Thera can lead to serious complications – Govt.

By Zacki Jabbar-June 20, 2018, 10:52 pm 

The Mahanayakes have raised the issue of  Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) leader  Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera, imprisoned  for threatening the widow of  cartonist Prageeth Ekneligoda  with President Maithripala Sirisena, but the government said yesterday that special treatment for one prison could lead to others demanding same.

 Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, addressing  the weekly  Cabinet Press Briefing at the Information Department, said that there  were 18  priests serving prison sentences for various offences, some of which were of a very serious nature. "Fifteen of them are Buddhists while the other three are from the Hindu, Muslim and Christian faiths. If  Gnanasara Thera is pardoned or given any special treatment, then the others would also want similar relief."

Asked why  Gnanasara Thera had been made to wear the prison uniform, Senaratne  said that  should have been asked when Somarama Thera was serving his term for killing Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.

He pointed out that  the  authorities were only following the established practice and to make an exception in the case of the BBS leader, the law would have to be changed.

Admitting that the Mahanayakes had interceded on behalf of  Gnanasara Thera  with President Sirisena, the Minister said that he was not aware of the outcome of the talks.