Gnanasara Thera has told the media that he was prepared to go to jail.

 

Police have been deployed near the temple, as he is due to report to Homagama police at 10.00 am today (26) following a warrant issued by the Homagama magistrate for his arrest.

 

Magistrate Ranga Srinath Abeysinghe Dissanayake ordered his arrest for having behaved in an uncontrolled and obscene manner at courts following the hearing of the case in connection with the enforced disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, and threatened the state counsel and other state officials.

 

During the hearing, Gnanasara Thera and around 20 other monks remained in the court.

 

At the conclusion of the hearing, he addressed the magistrate, praised the armed forces for having staged the war and denounced the present government and public officials.

 

The magistrate kindly explained the situation to him, and asked him to consider what would have been done had any other person behaved in courts like him.

 

Gnanasara Thera apologized to the magistrate, but continued to berate the lawyers, public officials and the government.

 

State counsel Dileepa Peiris and lawyer Upul Kumarapperuma made submissions to courts in this regard.

 

As he was leaving courts, Gnanasara Thera addressed the journalist’s wife, Sandhya Ekneligoda, and said, “Your man is a Tiger. Go and beg,” Kumarapperuma told the court.

 

After considering the submissions by the lawyers, the magistrate issued the order for the Thera’s arrest.