Sri Lanka, Oct. 23 -- Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala today observed that the court had no authority to issue an order regarding the reinstatement of the robe of Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, which was removed by prison officials.

The observation was made when the case filed against Gnanasara Thera over allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam was taken up before the High Court.

Appearing for the accused, Senior Counsel Asoka Weerasooriya submitted that the Kotte Mahanayake Thera had made a prior written request to prison authorities seeking the ceremonial reinstatement of the robe in accordance with Buddhist traditions, without violating prison regulations. However, he said t...