Easter report moots criminal charges against Gnanasara
12 Feb 2021
Easter report moots criminal charges against Gnanasara
12 Feb 2021
Alleged role in 2014 Aluthgama riots in focus
Recommendation laughable, says BBS Gen Secy
The final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to investigate the Easter Sunday bomb attacks on 21 April 2019 has recommended that criminal charges be filed against Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, The Morning exclusively learnt.Well-placed sources told The Morning that the recommendation for these charges against the monk pertain to allegations of him having played a role in inciting racial tensions in Aluthgama and Beruwala in 2014. The mob attack on Muslims that took place in Aluthgama, Beruwala, and Dharga Town in the Kalutara District between 15 and 17 June 2014 resulted in at least four deaths, about 80 injuries, and damage to property.The recommendation is said to have been made under the mandate provided to the Commission to identify persons and organisations who aided and abetted actions that caused racial and religious disturbances or gave support for such acts within the country, and which created public unrest and disturbed social order, and disrupted social integrity and caused racial disturbances.When The Morning contacted Ven. Gnanasara Thera yesterday (11), the monk said that he had not been informed of such a recommendation.“I have not been informed of a recommendation made by the PCoI appointed to investigate the Easter Sunday attacks to make criminal charges against me.”When inquired as to what his course of action would be if or when he is informed, the Thera said: “What I will have to do is laugh,” before adding that he would see what can be done if and when such a thing takes place.Testifying before the PCoI in June 2020, Ven. Gnanasara Thera said that since no responsible individual or Government paid any attention to information related to extremism that he had uncovered since 2012 to the day of the attacks on 21 April 2019, he had decided to make the public aware of the matter. He added that his name or photograph could not be uploaded to Facebook since the previous United National Front (UNF)-led Government had told Facebook that he is a terrorist.The Thera noted before the PCoI that he had systematically informed, in writing, the former President and incumbent Parliamentarian Maithripala Sirisena about Islamic extremist activity in the country on five occasions, the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara on four instances, and the former Ministry of Defence Secretary and current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa too, adding that the latter was the only person to summon the Thera to the Defence Ministry and inquire about the matter.The monk, who was serving a six-year jail term for contempt of court, was granted a presidential pardon by Sirisena in May 2019. He was also convicted and given a six-month jail term over intimidating Sandhya Eknaligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.The Morning reported yesterday (11) that criminal charges have been recommended to be brought against Sirisena, former Ministry of Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, and Jayasundara. The Morning also exclusively reported that despite media reports to the contrary, the PCoI had not recommended that criminal charges be brought against former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.Appointed by Sirisena on 22 September 2019, this PCoI was to investigate the series of attacks and to recommend necessary actions.The PCoI handed over its final report to President Rajapaksa on 1 February after hearings and other procedures of the PCoI officially came to a conclusion on 27 January 2021. The first interim report was handed over on 20 December 2019, while the second interim report was handed over to President Rajapaksa on 2 March 2020.The PCoI had recorded evidence from a total of 440 individuals during its term.The PCoI was chaired by Supreme Court Justice Janak de Silva and the other members included Court of Appeal Justice N. Bandula Karunarathna, High Court Judges (Retd.) Nihal Sunil Rajapaksa and A.L. Bandula Kumara Atapattu, and former Ministry of Justice Secretary W.M.M.R. Adikari.
