Gnanasara Release Protest Relocates After Court Intervention

COLOMBO (News 1st); A group of Buddhist monks and supporters campaigning for the immediate release of Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, who is currently serving a prison sentence after being convicted of contempt of court, gathered near Colombo's Viharamahadevi Park after a court order barred them from remaining within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

The group left the area after Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena issued an order Friday (16) morning preventing 54 individuals, including Venerable Ulapane Sumangala Thero, 29 other members of the Maha Sangha, 10 politicians including former Minister Udaya Gammanpila, and 13 civil representatives, from remaining within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

The protest movement, organized under the leadership of members of the Maha Sangha and representatives of political parties including the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Sarva Jana Balaya, the United National Party (UNP), the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), as well as Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, had been demanding a Presidential pardon for Ven. Gnanasara Thero and objecting to him being produced in court wearing prison-issued attire.

Although the main protest march reached Colombo Thursday (15) evening, several participants remained in front of the Presidential Secretariat overnight.

Additional supporters arrived at the site Friday morning, including political activists such as Sarva Jana Balaya Executive Committee member Anuradha Yahampath and former SLPP Parliamentarian Jagath Kumara.

Meanwhile, Fort Police made submissions before the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court regarding the ongoing protest.

Police informed court that the demonstration, which began in Kandy and reached Colombo Friday, was being carried out despite protesters having already met with the Presidential Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Presidential Secretariat.

According to Police, the protesters had been informed that their concerns would be conveyed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and that efforts would be made to address the matter.

Police further told court that while the protesters had been granted their constitutional right to freedom of expression and assembly, they were now allegedly violating certain legal provisions, creating public inconvenience, obstructing police duties and remaining within a designated high-security zone.

Senior Superintendent of Police Mahesh Kumarasinghe told court that the protest had been continuing for five days and alleged that demonstrators were acting in a disorderly manner within the high-security area surrounding the Presidential Secretariat.

He also informed court that one individual had been arrested during the previous night and was due to be produced before court.

After considering the submissions, Magistrate Pasan Amarasena noted that while freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed under the Constitution, those rights are subject to specific limitations and conditions.

The Magistrate observed that the area surrounding the Presidential Secretariat includes several strategically important institutions, including the Port of Colombo and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and stated that the conduct of the protesters was causing inconvenience to the public.

The Magistrate further noted that protesters were already aware that their concerns had been brought to the attention of the President and that steps were being considered to address the matter.

Accordingly, the court issued an order preventing the protesters from remaining within the Presidential Secretariat area.

The order applies to 54 named individuals, including:

Venerable Ulapane Sumangala Thero

Venerable Viharandeniye Nanda Thero

Venerable Medille Pannaloka Thero

Venerable Balangoda Kashyapa Thero

Venerable Umandawe Samantha Bhadra Thero 

Venerable Liyannuwala Shasanarathana Thero

Venerable Bahirawa Kanda Viharaye Ananda Thero

Venerable Walawahengunawewe Dhammarathana Thero

Venerable (Professor) Mahinda Sangharakkitha Thero

Venerable Angugugalle Sri Jinananda Thero

Venerable Anuradhapura Titta Galle Saddhatissa Thero

Venerable Kotapitiye Sri Rahula Thero

Venerable Ittekande Saddhatissa Thero

Venerable Wakwelle Uditha Thero

Venerable Wempitiye Wanarathana Thero

Venerable Bibila Deniye Dhammapriya Thero

Venerable Galagama Kusaladhamma Thero

Venerable Abanwala Gnanaloka Thero

Venerable Maturata Dhammaloka Thero

Venerable Akuressa Ariya Sagara Thero

Venerable Magalkande Sudatta Thero

Venerable Agalakada Sirisumana Thero

Venerable Tittagalle Anandasiri Thero

Venerable Sigiriye Dhammarakkitha Thero

Venerable Hendigalle Wimalasara Thero

Venerable Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero

Venerable Medirigiriye Pannasara Thero

Venerable Weeraketiye Dayaseela Thero

Venerable Pathegama Gnaneswara Thero

Venerable Sansungama Gnanarathana Thero

Politicians named in the order include:

Udaya Gammanpila

Wimal Weerawansa

Anuradha Yahampath

Sarath Weerasekara

Chandra Wakkishta

Channa Jayasumana

Saman Rathnapriya

Sanjeewa Edirimanne

Prasanna Ranaweera

Attorney-at-Law Manoj Gamage

Jagath Kumara

The order also extends to 13 named civil representatives, including:

Dakum Dulara Gunathilaka

Prabath Madhubhashana Ranasinghe

Aishwarya Gunaratne Adhikari

Bodu Bala Sena activist Dulika

Naduni Githma

Chanaka Bandara Gunathilaka

Kithsiri Rajapaksa

Abitha Edirisinghe

Asela Sampath

Jagath Hemantha

D.G. Prabuddha

S.B. Athapaththu, as well as other members and participants associated with the protest.

Police officers arrived at the Presidential Secretariat area Friday afternoon and formally served the court order on those present.

Police also informed protesters that violating the order could amount to an offence punishable under Section 185 of the Penal Code and relevant provisions relating to contempt of court.

Following the issuance of the court order, protesters began dismantling tents and other temporary structures that had been set up at the site before relocating from the Presidential Secretariat area.