Fort Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage has ordered the release on bail of the 21 Galle Face protesters arrested for blocking a road in front of the Finance Ministry.
The arrested protesters were produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday after recording their statements.
The protesters were earlier arrested for blocking the two remaining entrances to the Presidential Secretariat on Lotus Road. Police say that four women were also among those arrested.
The Police said that due to the protesters erecting tents at the remaining entrances to the Presidential Secretariat, officers reporting for duty on Essential Services as well as the general public visiting the premises for various needs have been unable to enter or get out.
It was reported that the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance got delayed to attend the meeting with the IMF delegation at the Prime Minister’s Office as he had to be escorted out of the Ministry by security officials with protestors blocking both entrances and exits to the Ministry.
In addition, the media had also reported that as a result of the protest the talks scheduled to be held between the visiting IMF delegation and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance was also disrupted yesterday.
According to the Police Spokesman, protesters at Galle Face Green had put up tents blocking the remaining two entrances of the Presidential Secretariat. The Galle Face protesters had initially blocked the main entrance to the Presidential Secretariat.
A large number of Government officials who are engaged in essential services and the public were highly inconvenienced yesterday due to protesters blocking entrances to the Finance Ministry and the Presidential Secretariat.
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