The ‘Justice for the Saffron Robe – Freedom March’ is expected to reach Colombo today (15), with Buddhist monks demanding the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera.
The march, which began on October 10 at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, passed through Kadugannawa, Kegalle, Warakapola and Nittambuwa before reaching Kadawatha yesterday (14). The final leg is scheduled to begin in Kadawatha this morning.
Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera said the monks expected a positive response from the government on the final day of the protest and urged authorities to take immediate steps to secure Gnanasara Thera’s release.
He added that the monks were willing to meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at any location designated by him, including Pelawatte, Parliament or the President’s House.
“We are waiting to receive that message. If that does not happen, we are prepared to come to wherever the President is. We are prepared to settle this matter one way or another today,” he said.
Ven. Sumangala Thera warned that the monks would consider alternative ways of conveying their demands if their peaceful appeals continued to go unanswered.
He also stressed that the Maha Sangha did not intend to conclude the march without progress towards securing Gnanasara Thera’s release.