A case filed against Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera and another monk over a luxury residence in Bambalapitiya has been withdrawn after the monks agreed to vacate the property and hand it over to its claimed heirs.

The matter was taken up before the Colombo High Court, where lawyers representing the defendants informed the court that the monks were willing to leave the residence and return possession of the property.

Following these submissions, the complainant informed the court that there was no objection to withdrawing the complaint, and permission was subsequently granted to withdraw the case.

The complainant had claimed that ownership of the property had been legally transferred through a power of attorney by a relative residing in the United States and alleged that access to the residence had been unlawfully obstructed.

However, counsel for the defendants maintained that the apartment had been donated to Gnanasara Thera by a devotee living overseas, with plans to sell the property and use the proceeds for the construction of a stupa.