A tense situation has been reported near the United National Party (UNP) headquarters after a group had pelted stones at Sirikotha today.
As the first session of the newly formed United Leadership Council commenced today a group calling themselves the ‘organization for building national unity’ had gathered in front of Sirikotha and engaged in a protest.
Accusing the opposition party of conspiring to betray the country, they had later proceeded to pelt stones in the direction of the building.
This had resulted in a clash between the protesters and several individuals who were at the party headquarters at the time.
A Human Rights Summit commenced at Sirikotha yesterday coinciding with the Commonwealth meet while a photo exhibition of missing persons has also been organized.
The protesters say that holding a Human Rights Summit and such photo exhibition at a time when an international event of national significance is taking place, is a betrayal of the country.
During the tense situation a group of Buddhist monks from the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organization, led by Galagodatthe Gnanasara Thera, had also entered the Sirikotha premises to voice their protest against the human rights summit and photo exhibition.
Bodu Bala Sena says that they protested against an exhibition ‘encouraging extremism in Sri Lanka’.
Several Budhdist monks who were inside the UNP headquarters at that time had then proceeded to confront the Bodu Bala Sena and a heated exchange of words between the monks had ensued.
UNP Provincial Councilor Daya Gamage had then intervened to resolve the dispute and escorted the Bodu Bala Sena monks safely outside.
The situation has currently been brought under control while security around the Sirikotha headquarters has been tightened, Ada Derana reporter said.
The incident comes just a day after UNP supporters and a group of protesters clashed outside Sirikotha.
A protest was held yesterday near the UNP headquarters, where a Human Rights Summit was held with the participation of relatives of those who have gone missing during the war.
However the protestors outside Sirikotha had prevented the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe from entering the premises by attacking the vehicle he was traveling in. Afterwards a clash between the UNP supporters and the protestors had led to a tensed situation.
