COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan court has sentenced an anti-Muslim Buddhist monk to six months imprisonment for criminal harassment and intimidation.

Monk Galagoda Aththe Gnana­sara Thero, who is also general secretary of the radical Buddhist nationalistic organisation Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), was sentenced for six months each for both charges to be served simultaneously in verdict by Homagama Chief Magistrate Udesh Ranatunga on Wednesday.

The court found him guilty of threatening Ms Sandya Eknel­igoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, and indulging in contempt of court.

Gnanasara Thero has also been against human rights activists, especially if they are critical of the Sri Lankan armed forces, resulting in his abusive remarks against Sandya Ekneligoda whose husband, cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda, had disappeared after being allegedly abdu­cted by military intelligence personnel.

The monk was also ordered to pay a compensation of SL Rs50,000 with immediate effect. The controversial monk, who was at the centre of riots against the Muslim community in 2014 in southern Alutgama, will serve an additional three months in prison in case he fails to pay compensation.

Gnanasara Thero was found guilty last month in a case filed against him for threatening Sandya Eknaligoda within the Homagama court premises on Jan 25, 2016.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2018