Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, a Sri Lankan extremist Buddhist monk known for his anti-Tamil and anti-Muslim approach, is set to enter Parliament of Sri Lanka as a Member of Parliament soon.
In August 2018, the monk sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of contempt of court over his conduct during a court hearing about the abduction of the journalist, cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda. He supported the accused military officials and shouted at the judge for refusing bail for them. He also threatened the wife of the missing journalist, Sandhiya Eknaligoda. He released from jail after former President Maithripala Sirisena given a presidential pardon.
The Sri Lankan media Dailymirror reported that Ape Janabala Party (AJP) will take measures to appoint Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero as its national list MP after Parliamentarian Athuraliye Rathana Thera resigns from his MP seat, AJP President Saman Perera said.
“Rathana Thero promised to give Gnanasara Thero the parliament national list seat three months after his appointment. However, Gnanasara Thero had said that it was not an issue if Rathana Thero occupied the seat even for six months,” it added.
