Controversial Sri Lankan Pastor, Jerome Fernando has been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said Pastor Fernando was apprehended after reporting to the CID to provide a statement today.
Pastor Jerome Fernando provided a statement for the second consecutive day today (Dec 02), after he provided an 08 hour statement to the CID yesterday following his arrival in Sri Lanka after 06 months overseas.
The controversial Sri Lankan Pastor was wanted by the Sri Lanka Police after allegedly having made derogatory statements about Lord Buddha, Islam, and Hinduism in front of a packed congregation in May this year.
Video footage of his remarks had caused an uproar among the followers of Buddhism in the country. Following the uproar, Pastor Jerome Fernando issued multiple apologies regarding his controversial statement.
The CID obtained a travel ban against Pastor Jerome Fernando from the Fort Magistrate’s Court in May, but it was revealed that the pastor had left the country by that time.
Following his departure overseas in May amidst the controversy surrounding him, Pastor Jerome Fernando returned to Sri Lanka yesterday.
The CID refrained from arresting him based on a court order on the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition that was filed requesting an order preventing his arrest.
However, the court instructed Pastor Jerome Fernando to provide a statement to the CID within 48 hours of his arrival, following which he provided an 08 hour statement yesterday. (NewsWire)
