A court order has been issued concerning the protest being held at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, demanding the release of Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena organisation.

The order was issued by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court after considering facts presented by the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Cinnamon Garden Police.

Accordingly, the order applies to Venerable Ulapane Sumangala Thero, Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero, and other Buddhist monks participating in the demonstration, as well as civil society activists and representatives of various political parties.

The court order prohibits the individuals concerned from obstructing access to the area surrounding the Buddha statue at Viharamahadevi Park, the park’s walkways, and several surrounding roads, including F. R. Senanayake Mawatha, Lipton Circus, De Soysa Circus, Dharmapala Mawatha, C. W. W. Kannangara Mawatha, Green Path, and Flower Road.

Furthermore, the order directs them not to remain continuously in front of the Prime Minister’s Office on Flower Road or in the vicinity of the Buddha statue at Viharamahadevi Park. It also prohibits them from causing damage to public or private property.

The order was issued under Section 106(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979, with the police authorised to enforce it under Section 106(3) of the same Act.

The order further states that any violation of the directive constitutes an offence punishable under Section 185 of the Penal Code of Sri Lanka.