Police investigate Balangoda Kassapa Thera over alleged false statements at Gnanasara protest

By The Pulseline News Desk

Cinnamon Gardens Police have launched an investigation into statements allegedly made by Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thera during a satyagraha at Colombo’s Viharamahadevi Park, following a complaint by the National People’s Power (NPP), claiming that the remarks could have incited the public and misled people.

The investigation was brought to the attention of the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday (26), with police informing Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that the complaint had been lodged by Jagath Basnayake, an organiser attached to the NPP headquarters.

According to police, the complaint alleges that Ven. Kassapa Thera had made false statements to the media during the protest, potentially misleading the public, inciting people and undermining public confidence.

Police have specifically told court that a statement made by the monk to the media on October 22, concerning two individuals who had allegedly arrived at Viharamahadevi Park carrying two knives, was entirely false and misleading.

The police have submitted that the dissemination of false statements could constitute an offence under Section 98 of the Police Ordinance and informed court that investigations were under way into the alleged remarks.

Police have also requested a court order directing media organisations to hand over unedited footage of the relevant statements to assist the investigation.

After considering the submissions, Chief Magistrate Bodaragama has ordered media institutions to provide the police with the unedited footage relating to the statements in question. He has also directed police to report the progress of the investigation to court promptly.

The investigation follows a satyagraha staged over several days at Viharamahadevi Park by a group including Ven. Kassapa Thera, demanding the immediate release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who is serving a prison sentence for contempt of court.

The police investigation will examine the disputed remarks and the circumstances in which they were made.