Acquittal of Ven. Gnanasara Thera and 12 others from another case confirmed

Lakmal Sooriyagoda-Friday, May 31, 2019

The Colombo High Court was yesterday informed that an appeal petition filed by the Attorney General (AG) challenging the Colombo High Court’s decision to acquit Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera and 12 others from 11 charges including for attacking a church in Thalahena had been withdrawn by the Attorney General.

On April 2, 2014, the Colombo High Court had acquitted all the accused from 11 charges following a trial. Accordingly, the judgement to acquit all accused including Ven.Gnanasara Thera will be effective since there is no any legal impediment.

Filing an appeal in the Court of Appeal, the Attorney General had moved to set aside the judgment of the Colombo High Court and convict and sentence the accused according to law.

However, on November 11, 2018, the Attorney General decided to withdraw the appeal petition citing a legal issue.

 

When the case pertaining to matter came up before High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi, the court was informed through Defence Counsel Tirantha Walaliyadda that the Attorney General has already withdrawn the appeal application.

The thirteen accused S.A. Athula Seneviratne, W.M. Sudu Banda, H. Thamara Beatrice, A.K. Denzil Premakumara, D.S.P.Kandana Arachchi, T.K. Somadasa, E.M.V. Ratnayake, K.W. Karunananda, E.M.H. Rathnayake, Ven. Aththaragama Gnanawimala Thera, Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera, Ven. Agulgalle Siri Jinananda Thera and Dhanushka Sanjeewa had been indicted in the Colombo High Court by Attorney General for committing the offences of being members of an unlawful assembly to attack the Calvary church in Thalahena in 2008.

They were further accused for causing mischief to the said church, robbery of two gold chains worth Rs.15,000 and 50,000 belonging to person called Rohan Anderson and causing injuries to John Anton Anderson.