A fundamental rights petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an order directing prison authorities to produce Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera in court in his monastic robes. The Buddhist monk is serving a prison sentence.
The petitioner, Dr B. A. Rathnapala, also sought an interim order barring prison authorities from dressing Gnanasara Thera in lay clothes or prison attire and from displaying him in handcuffs to the media or the public pending the court’s final ruling.
The petition further sought an order restricting the photographing and filming of the monk, as well as the circulation or publication of such material, to what is permitted under Rule 156(2) of the prison rules.
