The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeyesuriya, has appointed a three-judge bench to hear petitions challenging the decision to remove the robes of imprisoned Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, announced on Wednesday.
The bench comprises Justices Amal Ranaraja, Mahen Gopallawa and Priyantha Fernando. The appointment follows Justice Abeyesuriya’s decision to withdraw from the bench previously hearing the petitions, which ask the court to invalidate the prison authorities’ decision.
The petitions concern a requirement that the Thera wear prison attire after being returned to prison. In September, the Supreme Court annulled the presidential pardon granted to him in May 2019 by former President Maithripala Sirisena.
The Court of Appeal then directed the Commissioner General of Prisons to enforce the remainder of his sentence for contempt of court. He was originally sentenced to six years and had served about nine months before the pardon.
The new bench will now take up the petitions.
