Colombo, June 21 (newsin.asia) – A Sri Lankan controversial Buddhist monk who was wanted for making alleged hate speeches and attacks against minorities in the island country, surrendered to a local court on Wednesday after weeks in hiding.
The General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero, surrendered to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court amidst tight security as his party had earlier said that there were fears the Monk would be assassinated.
The court, recalled his warrant and released him on a previous bail.
Gnanasara Thero remained in hiding for several weeks, with several police teams deployed to hunt him down.
His party, the BBS, is accused of instigating a recent wave of hate attacks against the country’s Muslim minority.
“He is wanted in connection with obstruction of justice, hate speech and several other crimes,” the police had said in a statement recently.
His party, the BBS, said Gnanasara had gone into hiding fearing he could be assassinated.
“The monk is at a secret location,” BBS spokesman Dilantha Vithanage told reporters in Colombo last week.
“We have told him not to venture out as he could be assassinated after he is arrested.”
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