Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, who was subject to an arrest warrant, has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) at the Thiniyawala Aranya Senasanaya in Kalutara, Sri Lanka Police said.
Police stated that the arrest was carried out in accordance with a warrant issued for his arrest and production before court.
The warrant was issued after the Supreme Court recently invalidated the presidential pardon granted to Gnanasara Thero by former President Maithripala Sirisena in connection with a contempt of court conviction.
Gnanasara Thero was sentenced to six years in prison by the Court of Appeal in 2018 after being found guilty of contempt of court.
He was subsequently released after former President Maithripala Sirisena granted him a presidential pardon.
