President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to meet a delegation of Buddhist monks representing the Chief Prelates of Sri Lanka’s three main Buddhist chapters at 1.00 pm on Thursday (08), amid concerns over the treatment of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera while in prison custody.
The meeting follows a letter sent by the Chief Prelates to the Commissioner General of Prisons on Wednesday (07), expressing concern over Gnanasara Thera being brought before court dressed in civilian prison attire rather than traditional Buddhist robes.
The senior Buddhist monks are expected to discuss the concerns raised in the letter with the President.
Gnanasara Thera, the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena organisation, was brought before the Colombo High Court wearing prison attire, prompting criticism from Buddhist religious leaders and several political figures.
Prison authorities have maintained that regulations governing convicted prisoners apply to Gnanasara Thera. (Newswire)
