Monks demanding Gnanasara Thera’s release hold talks with Buddhasasana Ministry

Buddhist monks who had been protesting outside the Presidential Secretariat demanding the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera held discussions with the Ministry of Buddhasasana on Friday after moving away from the protest site.

The Ministry granted the protesters a meeting, attended by four monks representing the group.

The discussions came after the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court issued an order preventing the monks and their supporters from continuing their protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat.

The protest formed part of the “Justice for the Robe – March for Freedom”, which began near the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy on 10 October under the leadership of members of the Maha Sangha.

The march reached the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday afternoon, where the monks and their supporters demanded a definite response from the Government on the release of Gnanasara Thera.

They remained outside the Presidential Secretariat overnight and erected temporary shelters along Galle Road as part of a satyagraha campaign.

Police later sought an order from the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court preventing the group from protesting in front of the Presidential Secretariat, arguing that the area was a high-security zone.

The court granted the request.

Police subsequently read out and formally handed over the court order to the protesting monks.

Following the order, the protesters dismantled the temporary shelters they had erected near Galle Road and moved away from the area before proceeding to the Ministry of Buddhasasana for discussions.