Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage yesterday (29) ordered that Ven. Rajangane Saddharathana Thera who was arrested and produced before the Court for making statements detrimental to religious harmony, be remanded until June 7.
The CID’s request to check the bank accounts of the suspect Thera too was allowed.
The Magistrate, who rejected the bail request made by lawyer Amila Egodamahawatta, who appeared for the suspect Thera, said that the Thera has issued statements detrimental to religious harmony which also have the potential to cause a public disturbance.
“Over 100,000 people have watched the comments made by the suspect Thera on YouTube videos and about 15,000 people have commented approvingly of it,” a CID officer told Court. The CID also told Court that the relevant comments made in videos released on social media was a threat to religious and national harmony and was also a threat to national security.
The CID said the suspect Thera has committed offenses under the Convention on Civil and Political Rights Act (ICCPR) and 120, 485 of the Penal Code. The CID informed the Court that if bail is granted, there could be a big public disturbance and asked the Court to remand the accused saying that they are at the initial stage of the investigation. The CID further said the suspect had made similar statements in the year 2022 which caused a great public uproar and in a relevant case the Court had ordered the Thera not to make such comments again as it may cause a public disturbance.
While noting that as a Buddhist, the Thera should act more responsibly the Magistrate ordered the suspect to be remanded until June 7.
Add new comment