October 15, Colombo (LNW): The Court of Appeal has scheduled October 22, 2026 to consider legal challenges to a decision by prison authorities to remove the robes of incarcerated Buddhist monk Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero.
The matter was taken up on October 15 before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Amal Ranaraja, Mahen Gopallawa and Priyantha Fernando.
Following submissions by the parties, the bench directed that the petitions be considered on the newly fixed date, setting the stage for further examination of the disputed decision.
The legal action was initiated by several Buddhist monks, including Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thero, who are seeking to have the prison authorities’ decision overturned.
The case centres on the removal of Gnanasara Thero’s monastic robes while he is serving his prison sentence. The forthcoming proceedings are expected to address the legal challenge brought by the petitioners against the authorities’ action.
