Hirunika and 11 others arrested for protesting against President granted bail

Former MP Hirunika Premachandra

Former MP Hirunika Premachandra and 11 others, who were arrested by police while protesting in front of the President’s House in Colombo Fort yesterday were released subsequently on police bail.

The Presidential Security Division arrested a group including Premachandra who was protesting near the entrance gate of the President’s House under the charge of blocking the road. A group of women along with her had started this protest demanding they want to meet President Rajapaksa whom they alleged is the cause for the country’s worst crisis since independence.

Separately a group of farmers belonging to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Party also came to Chatham Street to protest against the arrest of Hirunika Premachandra and others. When they tried to break through the police roadblocks and move towards the President’s House, the police fired water and tear gas at them on two occasions.