CHAVAKACHCHERI, Sri Lanka — The Chavakachcheri Magistrate’s Court is to decide next week whether to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Balangoda Kassapa Thero, following submissions by a group of lawyers who allege that statements he made at a press conference in Colombo amount to contempt.
The issue arises in connection with an ongoing case involving a Buddhist monk accused of attempting to sexually assault a minor at the Navatkuli Vihara. The accused monk was arrested, remanded, and subsequently released on bail, subject to conditions imposed by court.
Appearing for the lawyers, M. A. Sumanthiran made detailed submissions inviting court to consider whether the remarks attributed to Kassapa Thero constituted contempt by scandalizing the court and undermining public confidence in the administration of justice.
Counsel submitted that Kassapa Thero had publicly alleged that the Chavakachcheri Magistrate’s Court acted pursuant to a conspiracy and with ulterior motives, thereby bringing the court and its proceedings into disrepute.
“We, as officers of court, place this matter before Your Honour and respectfully seek that appropriate proceedings for contempt be considered,” counsel submitted.
He further argued that the statements complained of went beyond permissible criticism and amounted to a misrepresentation of judicial proceedings, with the potential to create public confusion.
Counsel also drew attention to remarks attributed to Kassapa Thero calling for the accused monk to be permitted to return to the vihara and continue activities, notwithstanding restrictions imposed by the court in light of the allegations.
The application was supported by several lawyers present in court.
The matter was brought before the court by way of a motion filed by Attorney-at-Law Kesavan Sayanthan, seeking that the court consider whether the threshold for contempt of court has been met.
Magistrate M. I. Rismina stated that an order would be delivered next week on whether to take further steps in respect of the alleged contempt.
While differing accounts have emerged, Buddhist monks told Jaffna Monitor that the girl — who resides in Colombo — had come to her home in Navatkuli and later visited the vihara, and that the incident was mischaracterized after she was admonished over her attire.
However, other sources familiar with the matter said the monk is alleged to have attempted to sexually assault the girl.
The case is ongoing, and no findings of guilt have been made by the court.
The claims from both sides could not be independently verified, and the matter remains before court.
Balangoda Kassapa Thero is a Buddhist monk who gained prominence during the 2022 Aragalaya protests that led to the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He was among the saffron-robed participants at the “GotaGoGama” protest site on Galle Face Green.
Since then, he has remained a controversial figure. Critics have accused him of espousing hardline Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist views and of taking positions perceived as hostile to minority communities. Earlier this year, he was remanded in connection with a dispute over a Buddha statue site in Trincomalee, in a case involving alleged violations of coastal conservation regulations.
Some critics have also drawn parallels between his rhetoric and that of other outspoken Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist monks, including Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero.
