• 3 yrs.+ sentence or RI get uniform, robe/civil for simple imprisonment

Individuals sentenced to more than three years’ of imprisonment are required to be produced before court wearing the prison uniform issued by the Prisons Department, the Prison Media Spokesperson and Prisons Commissioner Senaka Palletenna said. 

Palletenna made the clarification in response to various opinions circulating on social media regarding the clothing worn by individuals serving prison sentences. He said that under prison regulations, a Buddhist monk sentenced to a term of simple imprisonment may continue to wear his robes while serving the sentence in prison. However, individuals sentenced to rigourous imprisonment (RI) are required to wear prison clothing, regardless of their status, he said. He further explained that when a convicted person serving a sentence of less than three years is produced before court, the prison superintendent may grant permission for the individual to wear civilian clothing worn prior to the commencement of the sentence. In the case of a Buddhist monk, permission may similarly be granted to appear before court wearing his robes. However, any individual sentenced to more than three years’ imprisonment must be produced before court wearing clothing issued by the Department, irrespective of the individual’s status or position, Palletenna said. He also stated that more than 63 religious figures are currently serving prison sentences at correctional institutions across the country. These individuals, too, are required to wear prison uniforms while serving their sentences, he added.

Meanwhile, a peaceful protest was scheduled to be held at the Colombo Court Complex yesterday (7) in opposition to steps reportedly being taken by the Department regarding the clothing worn by the Bodu Bala Sena organisation’s General Secretary, Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera. Ven. Neethiyagama Chandima Thera said the protest would be held at 9 a.m. “We all have a country, a Nation, a religion and a culture. We are not expressing opposition to the Court order. However, the decision to remove the robes of our Gnanasara and bring him before the public in that manner has deeply disturbed many people,” he said. He further called on the general public, particularly the younger generation, to attend the protest, saying that it was intended to ensure that such an incident would not become a precedent in the future.

Elsewhere, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered that the case against Gnanasara, who is currently serving a nine-month prison sentence, be called again on 25 February of next year (2027). When the case was called yesterday, Gnanasara was produced before the Court dressed in civilian clothing. His attorney stated that an appeal against the prison sentence had already been filed with the Supreme Court on behalf of his client and requested that the execution of the sentence be stayed until a decision is reached on the appeal. Gnanasara was produced before the Colombo High Court (HC) on Tuesday (6), in a prison attire. On Tuesday, the Colombo HC ordered that the case against Gnanasara be recalled on 23 October. The case was taken up on Tuesday before Judge Buddhika C. Ragala. At the time, Gnanasara, who had been arrested under a warrant, was produced before the Court by prison officials dressed in civilian attire.

Gnanasara has been ordered to serve the remainder of a sentence concerning contempt of court.

PHOTO Krishan Kariyawasam