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Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara

The conviction mark reflects court convictions reported by the cited sources. Convictions can be appealed or overturned, and this entry may not show the latest position. The custody or bail mark follows the dated status line below and may be out of date.

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Details

Role

Buddhist monk; General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena

Country

Sri Lanka

Flagged for

Court convictions in 2018, 2024 and 2025 (see connections)

Status

In prison since 5 October 2026, serving the rest of the 2018 contempt sentence; petitions over the prison-attire decision are before a new three-judge Court of Appeal bench after the court’s President recused himself on 14 October 2026, and were fixed for consideration on 22 October 2026; the Prisons Department said on 14 October 2026 that a committee reviewing prison attire rules for imprisoned religious leaders was expected to report within about two weeks

Appears on

Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara
Communal violence and state force, 2013 to 2019

Last checked

18 Oct 2026 (what this means)

Connections (13)

• Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara / General Secretary of / Bodu Bala Sena
  • Encyclopedia entry by Michael Hertzberg (University of Bergen): the group was founded in 2012 by Kirama Wimalajothi as leader and Gnanasara as general secretary.23 May 2019 · Store norske leksikon · Bodu Bala Sena
  • Refers to him as the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary.8 Aug 2018 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Ven. Gnanasara Thera sentenced by Appeal Court
• Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara / Spoke at rally before / Aluthgama violence, June 2014
  • Reports that he gave a speech at the rally saying the Sinhalese majority needed protection, and that mobs attacked Muslims, homes and businesses soon after.19 Jun 2014 · Human Rights Watch · Sri Lanka: Justice Key to End Anti-Muslim Violence
• Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara / Convicted in / Intimidation conviction, June 2018
  • Homagama Magistrate's Court sentenced him to six months of rigorous imprisonment for intimidating Sandya Eknaligoda; reported as the first time a court had found him guilty.15 Jun 2018 · Daily FT · Gnansara gets 6-month rigorous imprisonment
• Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara / Convicted in / Contempt of court conviction, August 2018
  • Sentenced by the Court of Appeal to 19 years, to be served in six, for contempt of court over his behaviour at Homagama Magistrate's Court on 25 January 2016.8 Aug 2018 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Ven. Gnanasara Thera sentenced by Appeal Court
  • A three-judge Supreme Court bench rejected his appeal against the sentence by majority decision.5 Oct 2018 · Ada Derana · Supreme Court rejects Gnanasara Thero's appeal
  • On 5 October 2026 the Court of Appeal ordered the six-year sentence reactivated, after the Supreme Court ruled the presidential pardon invalid.5 Oct 2026 · News 1st · Gnanasara Thera's Six-Year Prison Sentence Reinstated
  • The court directed the Commissioner General of Prisons to enforce the remainder of the sentence.5 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Gnanasara Thera sent back to prison to complete six-year sentence
• Maithripala Sirisena / Granted presidential pardon to / Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara
  • President Sirisena pardoned him after he was sentenced to six years for contempt of court; the president’s office gave no reason.22 May 2019 · Al Jazeera · Sri Lanka president pardons hardline Buddhist monk
  • On 10 September 2026 the Supreme Court ruled that the pardon was legally invalid.5 Oct 2026 · News 1st · Gnanasara Thera's Six-Year Prison Sentence Reinstated
• Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara / Chairman of / Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law
  • Names him as chairman of the task force.27 Oct 2021 · News 1st · Gnanasara Thero to lead new Task Force on One Country, One Law
• Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara / Convicted in / Conviction over remarks on Islam, March 2024
  • Colombo High Court sentenced him to four years of rigorous imprisonment and a Rs. 100,000 fine over comments against Islam at a 2016 media briefing at Kuragala.28 Mar 2024 · Ada Derana · Gnanasara Thero sentenced to 4 years RI
  • Released on bail with an overseas travel ban, following a Court of Appeal decision of 18 July 2024.22 Jul 2024 · Ada Derana · Colombo HC orders release of Ven. Gnanasara Thero on bail
• Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara / Convicted in / Conviction for insulting Islam, January 2025
  • Colombo Magistrate's Court sentenced him to nine months of simple imprisonment and a Rs. 1,500 fine for insulting the religion of Islam.9 Jan 2025 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Gnanasara Thera sentenced to 9 months imprisonment
  • Colombo High Court granted bail after he appealed the nine-month sentence, which concerned remarks at a 2016 press conference.25 Feb 2025 · Ada Derana · Gnanasara Thero granted bail after appealing defamation sentence
  • On 7 October 2026 the Colombo Additional Magistrate announced that the High Court had dismissed his appeal and upheld the sentence. His counsel said an appeal had been filed with the Supreme Court, and the magistrate fixed the case for 25 February.7 Oct 2026 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Colombo High Court upholds nine-month jail term for Gnanasara Thera over insulting Islam remarks
• Ranil Wickremesinghe / Says he supported the 2019 pardon of / Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara
  • Speaking to United National Party lawyers, he said that as prime minister he discussed the matter with cabinet ministers and supported the pardon granted by President Sirisena. He said senior monks had warned that removing the monk’s robes in prison would cause a serious religious controversy.10 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Ranil explains why Gnanasara Thera was granted presidential pardon in 2019
• Foot march for Gnanasara’s release, October 2026 / Calls for the release of / Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara
  • A march led by Buddhist monks left the Sri Dalada Maligawa premises in Kandy on 10 October 2026, opposing the removal of his robes in prison and demanding his release.10 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Buddhist monks begin protest march in Kandy demanding Gnanasara Thera’s release
  • On its third day the march was to go from Kegalle towards Warakapola, and was scheduled to reach Colombo on 15 October.12 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Foot march calling for Gnanasara Thero’s release continues for third day
• Udaya Gammanpila / Alleges prison officers forced a prison uniform on / Galagoda Aththe GnanasaraAllegation
  • At a press conference on 12 October 2026 he said he had visited Welikada Prison on 8 October at the monk’s request, and alleged that officers forcibly dressed the monk in a prison uniform under pressure from senior NPP leaders. The article says the allegations have not been independently verified and carries no response.12 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Gnanasara Thera forced to wear prison uniform despite objections – Gammanpila
  • Prison Commissioner and Media Spokesperson Senaka Pallethanna denied the allegation, saying the Department of Prisons has received no complaints, is unaware of any such incident and follows prison regulations: “There is no possibility of such a thing happening.” He said a committee has been appointed to review prison attire regulations for imprisoned religious leaders, with Prisons Commissioner Gajanayake as a member, that he expected its report this week or next, and that the department would act on its recommendations because procedures cannot be changed arbitrarily under prison laws.14 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Prisons Department denies Gammanpila’s allegations over Gnanasara Thera’s prison attire
• Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara / Subject of / Petitions over prison attire, October 2026
  • Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya withdrew from hearing petitions that challenge a prison authorities’ decision requiring the monk to wear prison attire and ask for an order invalidating it. The article gives no reason for the recusal and says a three-judge bench was appointed.14 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Gnanasara Thera’s robes case: Court of Appeal President recuses himself
  • After the recusal, Justice Abeysooriya appointed a new three-member bench of Justices Amal Ranaraja, Mahen Gopallawa and Priyantha Fernando to consider the petitions.14 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Appeals Court president recuses himself from hearing petitions over removal of Gnanasara Thero’s robe
  • On 15 October 2026 the bench of Justices Amal Ranaraja, Mahen Gopallawa and Priyantha Fernando, after considering submissions, ordered that the petitions, filed by a group of monks including Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thero, be taken up for consideration on 22 October 2026.15 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Petitions challenging decision to remove Gnanasara Thero’s monastic robes fixed for consideration
• Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara / Told a press conference that about 500 youths had gathered at a temple / Gintota violence, November 2017
  • Al Jazeera reports that he told a press conference that about 500 youths had gathered at a temple.24 Nov 2017 · Al Jazeera · Fear grips Muslims in Sri Lanka’s Ginthota after attack