Sri Lanka, June 23 -- Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne today rejected the appeal filed by Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and upheld the nine-month rigorous imprisonment sentence imposed by the Colombo Magistrate's Court.

The appeal sought to overturn his conviction and secure an acquittal in connection with charges of making statements allegedly insulting the Islamic faith at a media briefing held in Kirulapone in 2016, which were deemed to have been prejudicial to communal harmony.

Following trial proceedings, the Colombo Magistrate's Court had earlier found him guilty and sentenced him to nine months of rigorous imprisonment.

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