Court bars monk and 53 others from Presidential Secretariat

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena issued the restraining order after considering evidence presented by the Police. The group, which included Venerable Ulapane Sumangala Thero, had assembled outside the Presidential Secretariat on the previous evening as part of an organized protest march.

According to court records, the gathering was staged to press demands related to matters the protesters sought to raise with the Presidential administration. The exact nature of the grievances was not immediately detailed in the court proceedings.

The magistrate's decision to bar the individuals from the Presidential Secretariat premises represents a court-imposed restriction on their access to the government office. Such orders are typically issued when authorities determine there is a risk of disruption or security concerns related to continued presence at state facilities.

The court's action follows standard procedures whereby law enforcement agencies submit reports and recommendations to judicial officers, who then determine appropriate measures. The 54 individuals affected by the order are now prohibited from remaining within the Presidential Secretariat compound.