Protesters demanding the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera have moved to the opposite side of the road outside the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo following a request by police.
The protesters, including Buddhist monks who marched from Kandy to Colombo, have vacated the area directly outside the Presidential Secretariat and are now occupying the pavement on the opposite side of Galle Road.
The road has been reopened to traffic, while the protest continues with a reduced number of participants remaining at the location.
Earlier, tensions erupted between police and the protesting monks when officers attempted to remove a temporary canopy erected on the road.
Several politicians were also spotted at the protest during the protest, including former SLPP MPs Prasanna Ranaweera, Sanjeewa Edirimanne and Indika Anuruddha, as well as former UNP MP Saman Ratnapriya.
The protesters had earlier held discussions with Presidential Secretariat officials but failed to reach an agreement over their demand for the release of Gnanasara Thera.
Despite the reduced turnout and the reopening of the road, a group of protesters continues to remain at the location. (Newswire)
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