People for Human Rights and Equality Inc. (PHRE)
Reg. No. A0037233S
E-mail: peopleforhumanrightsequality@gmail.com Web: www.phre.org.au
PHRE condemns the violation of a court order by Gnanasara Thera and urges the IGP and AG to investigate
The People for Human Rights and Equality (PHRE) is dismayed to learn of the actions led by Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera that lead to the final rites of Ven. Kolamba Medhalankarakkhitha Thera being performed adjacent to the tank of the Nayaaru Temple at Chemmalai Mullaitivu. Gnanasara Thera and other monks had carried out the final rites despite a court order by the Mullaitivu Magistrate’s Court prohibiting the cremation of Ven. Kolamba Medhalankarakkhitha Thera’s body within the temple grounds. Moreover, local police officers who were present at the site refused to enforce the court order and instead enabled the cremation to take place. The cremation of a body within temple grounds is deemed sacrilegious according to Hindu customs and the incident has sparked widespread anger and protest.
The above incident is not the first time that Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera has engaged in conduct that amounts to contempt of court. In 2018, he was convicted of contempt of court charges and sentenced to serve a six-year prison term by the Court of Appeal. The contempt of court charges related to his actions that included the threatening of Hon. Magistrate of Homagama and a senior officer of the Attorney General’s Department. Gnanasara Thera received a presidential pardon in February this year and was released from custody. Members of the legal profession and the general public decried the presidential pardon, arguing that such a move undermines the rule of law in Sri Lanka. The recent actions of Gnanasara Thera in Mullaitivu in blatant violation of court order serves to only reinforce his gross unsuitability to receive a pardon.
