21 protesters held for obstructing entrances at Presidential Secretariat

At least 21 individuals including a Buddhist monk were taken into police custody this morning for obstructing both entrances of the Finance Ministry at the Presidential Secretariat, police said. 

The detainees including four females were staging protests near the entrances of Lotus street demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should resign from office immediately due to his disastrous policies that brought the country's worst economic crisis. 

The protesters gathered near the Presidential Secretariat to commemorate the 73rd day of the Galle Face Protest. Among those arrested is social media activist Anuruddha Bandara who was previously arrested for running the #GoHomeGota Facebook page.

According to the police, while blocking the entrances, protesters tried to set up temporary shelters at the entrances to the Finance Ministry. 

Issuing a statement, police said that the public had to face many difficulties in accessing the road due to the protest organized by groups who have been continuously protesting at the Galle Face Green for over two months. 

Police also stressed that due to the protests, the Treasury Secretary who was scheduled to attend a discussion with a visiting team from International Monetary Fund (IMF) this morning got late. 

Police officials with Special Task Force (STF) personnel arrested the individuals who blocked the street following a tense situation. The arrested individuals are to be produced before Courts shortly, police said. 

Addressing a press briefing, organizers at the Galle Face protest condemned the arrests of protesters and pointed out that they were not aware of Treasury officials were barred from attending the crucial IMF meeting.