Gammanpila Alleges Gnanasara Thera Was Forced to Wear Prison Uniform

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera was forcibly stripped of his monastic attire and made to wear a prison uniform while in custody at Welikada Prison.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo today (12), Gammanpila claimed the incident occurred despite objections from the monk and prison officers.

He said he visited Welikada Prison on October 8 at the request of Gnanasara Thera, who reportedly explained the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Gammanpila further alleged that senior National People’s Power (NPP) leaders had exerted pressure to ensure the monk was dressed in prison attire. He also claimed that a prison officer used a mobile phone camera to allow someone at another location to observe the incident.

Gammanpila said the incident differed from a similar attempt in 2018, when prison officers reportedly abandoned the effort following the monk’s objections.

The allegations have not been independently verified.