The 53 Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) members who were arrested today (09) have been granted bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate.

They were taken into custody for defying a court order and quarantine laws during a protest.

Propaganda Secretary of FSP Duminda Nagamuwa and the party’s Chief Secretary Kumar Gunaratnam were also among the arrestees, according to reports.

The FSP initially planned to stage a protest before the US Embassy in Colombo on Monday (08) against the killing of an unarmed black man named George Floyd in police custody, which sparked outcry worldwide.

However, upon a request made by the OIC of Kollupitiya, the Colombo Fort Magistrate issued an order preventing the FSP as well as the general public from protesting in the vicinity of the embassy.

The court order further read that violating this order is a punishable offence under Section 185 of the Penal Code.

Defying the court order, the FSP members carried out their protest in front of the US Embassy premises this afternoon (09).

The officers of Kollupitiya Police had told the FSP members to call off the protest in compliance with health regulations, however, the protestors had proceeded with their protest.

The attempt of the police officers to inform the protestors of the court order met with strong objection.

Accordingly, 23 protestors including Duminda Nagamuwa were initially taken into custody.

The rest of the protestors marched up to the Lipton Roundabout in Colombo and staged a silent protest, where 19 others including Kumar Gunaratnam were arrested over violation of quarantine laws.