Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera could not attend court sessions since he was in Japan for a Wesak Buddhist program, BBS CEO Dilantha Withanage told Asian Mirror.

Withanage said that Gnanasara Thera had planned to return in time for the court session but had not been able to book a flight. He had informed the courts through a lawyer, Withanage said.

However, Colombo Magistrate Courts issued a warrant against Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera for failing to attend court sessions.

On April 24, Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera and 26 others were summoned to the Colombo Magistrate Courts on charges of contempt of court after they had taken part in a protest near the Bribery Commission, defying a court order.

The protest was held on April 23 to oppose the summons given to former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the commission.