… stage sit-in protest near Presidential Secretariat

by Nishan S. Priyantha

Buddhist monks who marched to Colombo demanding the release of imprisoned Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera continued their sit-in protest outside the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, as discussions between their representatives and Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake were underway.

The protesting monks said they would not leave the site until the authorities gave a positive response to their demand for the release of Gnanasara Thera. The discussions were continuing at the time this edition went to press.

The monks arrived in Colombo despite heavy rain, completing the six-day “Nidahase Pada Yathra” (Freedom March), which began in Kandy on October 10. The final leg of the march commenced from Kadawatha yesterday morning, proceeding through Kiribathgoda, Peliyagoda, Maligawatta and Maradana before reaching the area near the Presidential Secretariat at Galle Face.

Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera, commenting on the protest, urged the government to take immediate steps to secure Gnanasara Thera’s release, saying the participating monks expected a favourable response to their demand.

“Today is our final day. The Maha Sangha came from all four directions not to return empty-handed. We strongly urge the government to grant freedom to Gnanasara Thera, which is the expectation of all, including the respected chief prelates,” he said.

Ven. Sumangala Thera said the monks were prepared to meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at any location designated by him, including Pelawatte, Parliament or the President’s House.

“We are waiting to receive that message. If that does not happen, we are prepared to come wherever the President is. We are prepared to settle this matter one way or another today,” he said, warning that if their peaceful appeals continued to go unanswered, the monks would consider alternative ways of conveying their demands to the government.

The march, which began in Kandy on October 10, passed through Kadugannawa, Kegalle, Warakapola and Nittambuwa before reaching Kadawatha on October 14. The procession was organised to demand the release of Gnanasara Thera and advocate for the religious rights of Buddhist monks.

Heavy police security was deployed around the Presidential Secretariat and nearby roads as the monks gathered in the area. Galle Road near the Secretariat was also closed to traffic during the march.

A naval officer yesterday (15) told the Colombo High Court that Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, had received approximately Rs. 5.15 million in salaries during his service in the Sri Lanka Navy.

The officer testified during the hearing of a money laundering case against Rajapaksa under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The witness said the total of Rs. 5,150,626 represented salary payments made to Rajapaksa during his naval service and did not include any additional allowances.

The testimony was presented as part of the ongoing trial before the Colombo High Court.

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has called on the government to withdraw the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill 2026, warning that its provisions could threaten fundamental rights, weaken judicial independence and restrict democratic freedoms.

In a statement issued yesterday, TISL raised concerns over the Bill, gazetted on September 22, 2026, which seeks to replace the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), citing its broad definition of terrorism, expanded executive powers, provisions for administrative detention and potential restrictions on civil liberties.

The organisation has warned that the proposed definition of terrorism was sufficiently broad to cover activities involving damage to property, the environment, cultural property and electronic systems, potentially bringing offences ordinarily dealt with under criminal law within the scope of counter-terrorism legislation.

Such broad provisions could lead to disproportionate restrictions on freedom of expression and association, as well as legitimate civic activities, it said.

TISL also expressed concern over provisions granting the armed forces and Coast Guard extensive powers of arrest, search, seizure and questioning, warning that inadequate safeguards could create accountability gaps and increase the risk of arbitrary action.

The proposed detention framework was another major concern, with the organisation noting that the Bill would allow the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to issue detention orders for an initial period of two months, while limiting a Magistrate’s ability to independently assess the necessity of continued detention.

These provisions risk concentrating excessive authority in the executive while weakening judicial oversight, TISL warned.

The organisation also criticised provisions empowering the President to proscribe organisations, saying the absence of specified time limits and adequate safeguards could facilitate arbitrary restrictions on freedom of association and civic engagement.

While acknowledging the State’s responsibility to address legitimate national security threats, TISL stressed that counter-terrorism measures must comply with fundamental rights, due process and judicial independence.

It called on the Government to withdraw the proposed Bill and repeal the existing PTA without further delay.

Any replacement legislation, the organisation said, should clearly define the limits of executive authority, establish effective accountability mechanisms and provide adequate safeguards against arbitrary detention and the misuse of counter-terrorism powers.