COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A pastor in Sri Lanka was released on bail Jan. 3, having been jailed for a month over comments he made in a sermon posted online.
Jerome Fernando, pastor of Glorious Church in Colombo, was released after posting a cash bail of $1,540 (500,000 rupees) and two personal bails for $30,810 (10 million rupees) apiece. In addition, he is prohibited from leaving Sri Lanka, reports Morning Star News.
In a sermon from April 30, 2023, posted on social media, Fernando made statements that allegedly offended some Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims.
Criminal investigation
Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s president, told the Criminal Investigations Department to investigate.
Fernando was charged under two penal code sections concerning “outraging the religious feelings of any class of persons,” states Morning Star. In a Supreme Court filing, Fernando rebutted that Article 10 of the Sri Lanka Constitution grants “freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”
To clergy of the offended groups, the pastor apologized. He and his family fled Sri Lanka two days prior to a magistrate court banning his travel, states Morning Star.
He returned Nov. 29 after the CID received orders not to arrest him. However, the CID arrested him Dec. 1. The magistrate court ordered him held until Dec. 13 but lengthened the detention to Dec. 27 and finally to Jan. 3.
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