Protesting monks prevented from reaching President's House

A group of Buddhist monks who were trying to advance on the President's House yesterday afternoon were prevented from doing so by Police and Army who fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.

The monks were making their way to the President's House with a petition calling for the scrapping of the proposed Joint Mechanism.

They were also shouting slogans expressing solidarity with Ven. Dr. Dambara Amila Thera of the National Bikkhu Front who is on a death fast opposite the Fort Railway Station, against the proposed Joint Mechanism.

The protesters ran helter skelter as tear gas clouds filled the Fort area, with a large number of home bound Office workers and bus commuters too affected. Last Friday too tear gas was fired to prevent a group of Bhikkus who were trying to force their way to the President's House where the Mahanayakes were having a discussion with the President.