Court Order Was Illegal, Says Udaya Gammanpila

29-Oct-2026

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Udaya Gammanpila, leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya and a former minister, has said that Buddhist monks have a fundamental right to protest against what he described as the Government's anti-Buddhist actions. He alleged that the court order directing the removal of monks engaged in a peaceful Satyagraha at Viharamahadevi Park was illegal.

He made these remarks to the media on 28 October 2026 after filing a petition before the Court of Appeal challenging the order issued by the Colombo Magistrate's Court against the Satyagraha conducted by Buddhist monks at Viharamahadevi Park.

Elaborating on his position, Gammanpila said that Article 9 of the Constitution clearly stipulated that Buddhism must be protected and fostered. However, he alleged that the Government was acting against Buddhism.

He maintained that Buddhist monks had a fundamental right to protest against such alleged actions and reiterated that the court order to remove the monks engaged in the peaceful Satyagraha at Viharamahadevi Park was illegal.

Gammanpila stated that the restraining order had been issued under Section 126 of the Penal Code. According to him, such an order could be issued only on grounds such as a threat to national security, a threat to public health or conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

He further stated that Buddhist monks had staged peaceful protests both in front of the Presidential Secretariat and at Viharamahadevi Park. He claimed that they had not engaged in any conduct intended to provoke violence or conflict and therefore maintained that the restraining order against their peaceful protest was illegal.