Extremist monk Gnanasara to face fresh contempt of court charges in Feb

<p>A fresh contempt of court hearing against Gnanasara, a leader of the extremist Sinhala-nationalist BBS organisation, has been set for February 17, 2020 by the Sri Lankan court of appeal.</p> <p>The action was filed by TNA MP Shanthi Sriskandarajah after Gnanasara had led the cremation of a Buddhist monk on Tamil temple premises, directly contravening a court order prohibiting the action.</p> <p>The senior superintendent (SSP) and chief inspector of the Mullaitivu police department will also appear as defendants in the case, for failing to prevent the court order from being disobeyed.</p> <p>During the incident police were accused of aiding the monks to carry out the cremation and of failing to intervene when Tamils were assaulted by Buddhist monks and their supporters.</p>