The Colombo High Court has officially scheduled a date for the hearing of the bail application submitted by Pastor Jerome Fernando, who recently became the center of controversy due to his contentious comments on various religions. The High Court, presided over by Judge Aditya Patabendi, announced that the bail application will be taken up for consideration on January 4, 2024.

Pastor Fernando, a self-styled prophet, garnered widespread attention after a video of one of his sermons surfaced on social media, sparking allegations of derogatory statements concerning Lord Buddha and other religious figures. The ensuing public outcry led to legal action against the pastor.

The case was brought before the Colombo High Court during a session this morning, marking the next step in the legal proceedings against Fernando. The court's decision to set a specific date for the bail hearing signals a significant development in a case that has been closely watched by the public.

Pastor Jerome Fernando had left the country for Singapore on May 14, just two days before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court issued a ban on his foreign travels in response to the controversies surrounding his remarks. After several months abroad, Fernando returned to Sri Lanka on Wednesday morning, November 29. His arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake stirred renewed interest in the case.