By The Court of Appeal has released controversial Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galabodaatte 
pending an appeal.
On March 28, Gnanasara Thera was sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court for making a hate speech by insulting the religious beliefs of the Muslim community.
Gnanasara Thera was ordered to be released on a cash bail of Rs.50,000 with two sureties of Rs.500,000.
The Colombo High Court judge Aditya Ptabandi had earlier rejected the bail application filed on behalf of Gnanasara thera citing there are no exceptional circumstances revealed before court to release him on bail.
Precedential Pardon
While sentencing the monk the court noted that the monk failed to fulfil his responsibility as a religious leader who is entrusted with maintaining the inter-faith harmony.
Previously when the monk received presidential pardon two Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant a Presidential pardon to Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagoda Atte Gnanasara.
The petitions had been filed by Centre for Policy Alternative (CPA) and Sandhya Ekneligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.
On May 23, 2019 Gnanasara Thera was released from Welikada prison after receiving a letter from the Presidential Secretariat granting a pardon to Ven.Gnanasara Thera.
In their petition, the CPA and its Executive Director P. Saravanamuttu stated that the decision to grant a pardon on Gnanasara Thera was a threat to judicial integrity and undermining the authority of court.
