Controversial Sri Lankan Pastor, Jerome Fernando arrived in Sri Lanka this morning (Nov 29).
Pastor Jerome Fernando is expected to give a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) within the next 48 hours as per a court order.
The Court of Appeal, on November 17, directed the CID not to arrest Sri Lankan Pastor Jerome Fernando on his arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Court also ordered Pastor Jerome to provide a statement to the CID within 48 hours of his arrival.
Pastor Jerome Fernando is wanted by the Sri Lanka Police after allegedly having made derogatory statements about Lord Buddha, Islam, and Hinduism in front of a packed congregation in May this year.
Video footage of his remarks had caused an uproar among the followers of Buddhism in the country. Following the uproar, Pastor Jerome Fernando issued multiple apologies regarding his controversial statement.
The CID obtained a travel ban against Pastor Jerome Fernando from the Fort Magistrate’s Court in May, but it was revealed that the pastor had left the country by that time.
Pastor Jerome Fernando also filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition requesting the court to issue an order preventing his arrest by the CID.
In July, the Supreme Court was informed that investigations have found Rs. 12.2 billion worth of transactions related to bank accounts held by Pastor Jerome Fernando.
The transactions were found following the examination of 11 bank accounts held by the controversial pastor, while investigations are being conducted under the Prevention Of Money Laundering Act into the accounts.
Following his departure overseas in May amidst the controversy surrounding him, Pastor Jerome Fernando has returned to Sri Lanka after nearly 6 months abroad. (NewsWire)