Jamburewela Thero released after protests hit Colombo

COLOMBO (News1st): Ven. Jamburewela Chandrarathna Thero, arrested during a protest on behalf of war heroes' widows, was released on bail today. The protest staged by the Association of War Heroes' Widows, demanded solutions to issues regarding salaries and allowances. Ven. Jamburewela Chandrarathna Thero and another individual were arrested for causing damage to a police vehicle during the protest. "If this government is planning to arrest monks and carry out such criminal activities we will have to work against such actions," Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thero said. Members of the Association of War Heroes' Widows remained near opposite the Fort Police Station demanding the release of the Ven. Jamburewela Chandrarathna Thero. The protesters then launched a Satyagraha opposite the Colombo Fort Railway station along with the support of the Disabled War Heroes Association. Meanwhile, another protest was staged opposite the Maradana Police Station demanding the release of Malika Abeykoon, a journalist who was arrested during a protest organized by the United Health Workers Union yesterday. "He was attacked while he was taken to the police station after being arrested at the protest site," Duminda Nagmuwa, the convenor of the Frontline Socialist Party said. He added that the journalist had been attacked at the police station as well. "These are signs of the beginning of a journey of an anti-democratic era. If journalists, freelancers, dissidents and political activists are attacked, there will be no democracy left in this country," Nagamuwa emphasized.