Social media activist Sepal Amarasinghe has been released after issuing an unconditional apology for defaming the Temple of Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy.
Following his apology, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court decided to conclude the case pertaining to his arrest for defamation. The decision was announced after the case was taken up for hearing before Colombo Magistrate Prasanna Alwis today.
During the hearing, Sepal Amarasinghe’s lawyer informed the court that his client unconditionally apologizes to the Mahanayake Theros and the followers of Buddhism for his actions.
Representing the complainants, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed the court that the case can be concluded if such an apology is issued.
A group of Buddhist monks were present during the court hearing and accepted the apology issued by Social media activist Sepal Amarasinghe after which the court decided to conclude the case.
Sepal Amarasinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on 5th January after making several controversial statements about Sri Dalada Maligawa on his YouTube channel.
His arrest came following a directive issued by the IGP after President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s attention was drawn to the matter by the Mahanayake Theros of the Malwathu and Asgiriya sectors.
The Mahanayake Theros of the Malwathu and Asgiriya sectors stated in a joint letter to the President, that video footage circulated on social media platforms by Sepala Amarasinghe contains statements offensive to Buddhism.
Stating that this was causing harm to Buddhism and the historic ‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’, the Mahanayake Theros called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe to immediately take necessary actions in this regard. (NewsWire)