The Homagama Magistrate ordered Police to arrest Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, General secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena organization,  with immediate effect.

The Magistrate made this order when the habeas corpus case with regard to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda was taken up for hearing today.

The Magistrate also ordered the Police to produce the monk before court.

The incident occurred immediately after the court proceedings were concluded on the Eknaligoda case. Gnanasara Thera started addressing the court, alleging that the arrest of Army Intelligence officials regarding the Eknaligoda disappearance was illegal. Pointing to Senior State Councilor Dileepa Peris, he claimed that they should be arrested for urging for the "illegal arrests" of military officers.

The Senior State Councilor responded by saying such incidents should not take place inside a court room.

Meanwhile, Attorney-at-Law Upul Kumarapperuma also requested the Magistrate to take necessary action.

The Magistrate made the order after taking into consideration the statements issued by the monk at the court and the requests by the lawyers. The Magistrate observed that the monk, by making those statement, had obstructed the work of state officials and attempted to threaten them.