Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, who was arrested while warrants were pending against him, was yesterday (4) remanded until today (5) by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

The Thera was produced before the Colombo Additional Magistrate by Colombo Crimes Division officers after a motion relating to the warrants was taken up in court.

Police told the court that Thera had been arrested and produced in accordance with warrants issued by the Court of Appeal (CA), Colombo High Court and Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

Appearing for the Thera, attorneys Iresh Seneviratne and Pasan Karunaratne told court that their client had been suffering from a mental breakdown and had therefore been staying at a forest monastery.

Seneviratne also informed the court that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday terror attacks had recommended special security for the Thera. He therefore requested an order directing that special protection be provided to him while in prison.

After considering the submissions, the Additional Magistrate ordered that the Thera be remanded.

Prison authorities were ordered to produce him before the CA today in connection with the warrant pending before that court and before the Colombo High Court tomorrow (6) over the warrant pending there.

He was further ordered to be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (7) in connection with the warrant pending before that court.

The Magistrate also directed prison officials to take necessary steps to ensure the security of the remanded Thera.