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Ever since his robes were removed when he was returned to prison on October 5, each court date for Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero has become a flashpoint. So, when he did not appear in the Colombo High Court on October 23, social media supplied its own reason: the government was keeping him away so he would not be seen in the prison ‘jumper’, the white clothing issued to inmates. Here is the post that spread that claim.
Social Media Posts:
This post, headlined “Gnanasara Thero will not be brought to court today”, claimed that the government stopped bringing him to court because, if he were brought again, he would have to come “in the ‘jumper'”.
Claim examined: Why Gnanasara Thero was not physically produced in court on October 23, 2026.
Explainer:
The case filed against Gnanasara Thero for allegedly insulting Islam was due to be called before the Colombo High Court on October 23, 2026. It was reported that the Ministry of Buddhasasana had informed the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha that he would not be produced in court that day. The reports said this was because the court had indicated that his appearance was not necessary.
When the case was called on October 23, he was not brought into the courtroom, and the court ordered that it be called again on October 29, as reported here.
Prison regulations are being updated
After Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was returned to prison on October 5, 2026, his robes were removed and he was dressed in white. This drew strong protests from the Maha Sangha and the Buddhist public. Following talks between the Maha Sangha of the three Nikayas and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on October 8, a five-member special committee was appointed to update the regulations and standing orders under the Prisons Ordinance.
The committee handed its interim report to the President on October 14, as reported here.
Extraordinary gazette amends the prison standing orders
The Commissioner General of Prisons, with the approval of the Minister of Justice, then issued an extraordinary gazette_1792743722.pdf) amending the prison standing orders under Sections 6(2) and (3) of the Prisons Ordinance. It was published in the extraordinary gazette dated October 20, 2026, and the Commissioner General signed it on October 15.
It amends two standing orders:
1. New Standing Order 356A:
When a Buddhist monk is admitted to prison as a prisoner, the matter must be referred to the Department of Buddhist Affairs before his robes are removed. The department must inform the relevant Nikaya or chapter, which then has ten days to tell the Commissioner what is to be done about the robes. If no response arrives within that time, the Commissioner may act under the relevant provisions. These provisions also apply, with the necessary changes, to clergy of other religions.
2. Amendment to Standing Order 550:
When a Buddhist monk is taken out of prison as a prisoner, he may continue to wear the robes he wore when he was admitted. However, if the relevant Nikaya or chapter has not given its approval for this, the Commissioner must act under the relevant provisions. To obtain that approval, the Commissioner must inform the Department of Buddhist Affairs within seven working days of the prisoner’s admission.
Advice sought on how to produce him in court on October 23
Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hinidumma Sunil Senevi said on October 20 that the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs had written to the Mahanayake Thero of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha, the chapter Gnanasara Thero belongs to. The letter sought advice on the procedure to follow in producing him in court in robes on October 23 under the amended orders. Details here.
Court reporters say he was produced online
Journalists who covered the Colombo High Court on October 23 told us that Gnanasara Thero’s case for insulting Islam was called that day and that he was produced online, by video link. They said the prison had asked the court, by motion, for permission to produce him online until the issue over the removal of his robes was resolved, and the court had allowed it. They added that the case would be called again on October 29.
The judge explained in open court that the Thero was produced through a WhatsApp video call. He said the prison had informed the court by motion two days earlier that this was being done to avoid any unrest following the removal of his robes, as reported here.
Defence counsel told the court that the Mahanayake Thero of the Kotte chapter had written to the prison asking to ceremonially re-robe him in a way that would not breach prison rules but had received no reply. The judge said the court had no power to make an order on that matter.
Minister’s media secretary: the Kotte chapter asked for an online appearance
The media secretary to Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hinidumma Sunil Senevi told us that the decision to produce Gnanasara Thero online, rather than in person, was not taken by the Prisons Department or the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs alone. He said the five-member committee appointed by the President had recommended that when an imprisoned monk whose robes have been removed is produced in court again, the relevant Mahanayake Theros should advise whether he appears in robes or in white.
As Gnanasara Thero belongs to the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha of the Siyam Nikaya, the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, on notice from the Commissioner of Prisons, wrote to the Mahanayake Thero of the Kotte chapter. The media secretary said the Kotte chapter replied that if the robes were to be restored, the Mahanayake Theros must do it, and as there was not enough time, the Thero should be produced online rather than in person without robes.
When we asked what would happen when the case is called again on October 29, the media secretary said there were still a few days left, and that the authorities had decided to follow the recommendations the Mahanayake Theros made after discussion.
He also said that at the recent meeting of the Buddhasasana Council, the Maha Sangha agreed to discuss and issue a common set of guidelines, with all 32 Nikaya chapters in the country represented, on how to act in such situations. He said all chapters were expected to reach a common position on ‘Parajika’ offences (the gravest breaches of monastic discipline, which end a monk’s status) and other serious offences, and on re-robing. He added that the procedure did not target any one person and would serve as common guidelines fair to all imprisoned monks and to clergy of other religions, including Catholic priests.
We also contacted the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha, but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Update: The satyagraha at Viharamahadevi Park demanding his release was temporarily suspended on October 25, after the Mahanayake Theros of the three Nikayas agreed to intervene (Newswire). His case is due to be called again on October 29.
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Conclusion:
Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was not brought into the courtroom on October 23, 2026, but he was produced in the case online, after the court allowed a motion filed by the prison. According to the Minister’s media secretary, the Kotte chapter advised that the robes must be restored by the Mahanayake Theros and, as there was not enough time, asked that he be produced online. We did not receive a response from the Kotte chapter.
Under the standing orders amended by the extraordinary gazette of October 20, the relevant Nikaya or chapter must be consulted before any decision on an imprisoned monk’s robes. The Minister’s media secretary said the return of the robes to Gnanasara Thero would follow the Mahanayake Theros’ recommendations. The case is due back in court on October 29.
