The Court of Appeal today issued a warrant for the arrest of Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera after he failed to appear before court in connection with contempt of court proceedings.
A two-judge bench comprising Justices Mayadunne Corea and Lakmali Karunanayake ordered that Gnanasara Thera be arrested and produced before the Court on October 1. The warrant was directed to be executed through the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The order was issued after the Court considered a motion filed by the Attorney General seeking directions to give effect to the Supreme Court judgment that annulled the presidential pardon granted to Gnanasara Thera by former President Maithripala Sirisena.
The Supreme Court had previously ruled that the pardon was invalid, paving the way for the enforcement of the sentence imposed on Gnanasara Thera following his conviction for contempt of court.
Gnanasara Thera was not present when the case was taken up today. However, he was represented before the Court by President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda.
The Court of Appeal directed the relevant authorities to execute the arrest warrant and produce Gnanasara Thera before court on October 1.
