Shanthi Sriskandarasa vs Rev. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero et al. – CA COC NO: 0015/2019-2022

In Shanthi Sriskandarasa v. Rev. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero and Others, the court addressed the issue of whether contempt of court was committed by the 1st Respondent for violating a Magistrate’s Court order concerning the cremation site of a Buddhist priest, with related claims against two police officers. The holding determined that insufficient evidence was presented to establish that the 1st Respondent had knowledge of or was bound by the court order, and accordingly, the issuance of summons for contempt was refused. The principle reaffirmed was that liability for contempt requires knowledge and a clear connection to the court’s order. This decision relied on relevant contempt law principles and precedents, clarifying that nonparties or persons acting without knowledge cannot be he