Pastor Jerome Fernando, who was arrested in relation to his controversial Sunday sermon, has been ordered to remain in custody until December 27 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has initiated an investigation against Pastor Jerome for insulting other religions and for allegedly committing offenses under Section 291B of the Penal Code and Section 3(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act 56 of 2007. It is alleged that on or around April 30, 2023, Jerome Fernando delivered a speech to a large audience where he made several derogatory statements about Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam.
