The Court of Appeal today ordered the Attorney General to file an amended charge sheet against Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera over his alleged offensive behaviour inside the Homagama Magistrate’s Court on January 25.

The Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake had referred this Contempt of Court action to the Court of Appeal in April.

Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera's lawyer informed Court that they would raise preliminary objections against the contempt of Court action procedure.

The alleged contempt of court incident occurred on January 25 during the magisterial inquiry into the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. Immediately after the court proceedings were concluded, 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.

Gnanasara Thera was remanded and later released on bail over the incident.