Colombo, Oct 15 (Daily Mirror) - Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to personally intervene in the protest by Buddhist monks outside the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, condemning police action against the demonstrators.
In a statement, Premadasa said the monks had marched from Kandy to Colombo and were engaged in a peaceful protest near the Presidential Secretariat.
He said he had received reports that police had dismantled a temporary structure erected to provide shelter for a Buddha statue brought by the monks, allegedly causing distress among those at the protest site.
Premadasa also said he had received information that several individuals had been arrested during the incident.
Strongly condemning what he described as undemocratic action against the protesting monks, the Opposition Leader called on the President to engage directly with the Maha Sangha and find a solution to their demands while ensuring due respect for the Buddhist robe.
He also urged the Government and police to immediately halt any actions that could cause harassment or distress to the monks.
The protest outside the Presidential Secretariat is being held to demand the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera.