Fort demo: Monks to appear in court on April 23

Sarath Malalasekera

Colombo Additional Magistrate Ravindra Premaratne yesterday directed the seven Buddhist monks who allegedly demonstrated opposite the Fort Railway Station and also a fast-unto-death, demanding the release of General Sarath Fonseka, to appear in Court again on April 23.

The seven Buddhist monks were earlier released by the Fort Police on surety bail Rs. 50,000 each and directed them to appear in Court yesterday. Fort Police, OIC Crimes Inspector Lalith Silogama who appeared with Fort Police OIC Chief Inspector Asitha de Silva, for the prosecution submitting a further report in connection with the incident, said police earlier obtained a Court order to remove the Buddhist monks who were on a-fast-unto-death opposite the Fort Railway Station. Police acted according to the Court order, IP Silogama said.

Senior Attorney Prasanna Wanninayake, Senior Counsel for the Buddhist Monks, said police had acted in violation of the Constitution and arrested the Buddhist monks who were peacefully demonstrating opposite the Fort Railway Station.

Attorneys Sunil Watagedera, Mervyn de Silva, Chandra Abeyratne, Namal Rajapaksa, Hussien Azhar, Bandara Ekanayake and several other lawyers appeared for the Buddhist monks.