Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thero detained under PTA hospitalized

The convenor of the Inter-University Bhikkhus’ Federation (IUBF), Venerable Galwewa Siridhamma Thero, who is detained in Tangalle under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), has been admitted to the National Hospital due to an illness, according to the hospital sources.
 
The Defence Ministry had issued detention orders against Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thero, Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) convenor Wasantha Mudalige and Hashantha Jeevantha Gunathilake, an activist of the ‘Aragalaya’ protest movement on August 22, granting permission to detain them for 90 days and be questioned by the police.
 
On August 19, the police requested the Ministry of Defence to extend the 72-hour detention order imposed on them following their arrests on the day before.
 
Several protesters including the aforementioned three activists were placed under arrest following a protest march at Union Place in Colombo on August 18.
 
The arrests were made after police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesting university students who were marching through the Town Hall area towards Union Place despite the roadblocks set up by the police.
 
The protest march had been organized by IUSF members against the incumbent government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.