October 18, Colombo (LNW): A protest by a group of Buddhist monks seeking the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero entered its third day on Sunday (18), with demonstrators continuing their Satyagraha at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo.
The campaign began on the evening of October 16, following a march from Kandy to the capital. Tensions surfaced shortly after the monks arrived, when a disagreement with police broke out as the protesters attempted to set up a canopy at the protest site.
The demonstrators have maintained that they will remain at the park until their demand for Gnanasara Thero’s release is met.
Before establishing their protest at Viharamahadevi Park, a group of monks had staged a demonstration outside the Presidential Secretariat. They later visited the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, where they met the Ministry Secretary for discussions on October 16.
The talks failed to produce an outcome acceptable to the protesters. The monks subsequently announced their intention to continue the sit-in, insisting that their concerns must be addressed before they would consider ending the campaign.
The demonstration was again marked by tension on the night of October 17, when an incident involving Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero prompted his transfer to the Colombo National Hospital by a Suwa Seriya ambulance.
Several monks and other protesters alleged that Kassapa Thero had been assaulted by police during the confrontation. Police, however, disputed that account.
Police Media Spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police Fredrick Wootler denied that officers had assaulted the monk, saying he had slipped and fallen at the scene before being taken to hospital.
Kassapa Thero was discharged approximately an hour after his admission. Colombo National Hospital Director Dr Sampath Indika Kumara subsequently confirmed that the monk had left the facility after informing medical staff that he no longer required treatment.
With the demonstrators showing no indication of withdrawing their demand, the protest continued into its third day, keeping attention focused on the monks’ call for action by the authorities.
