Former MP and Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya (SVB) national organiser Hirunika Premachandra was arrested yesterday following a protest in Colombo. 

The SVB had engaged in a demonstration calling to end violence against women given the International Day for the ‘Elimination of Violence against Women’ which is commemorated in November.

Speaking to the media, Premachandra said that a stage play-based demonstration had been organised to be conducted in front of the UN Office in Colombo yesterday to highlight incidents of violence against women in Sri Lanka. 

She said, however, the Police had blocked their protest march, which commenced from Independence Square, near the President’s private residence in Colombo-7.

The Police also arrested two of the demonstrators, which resulted in a tense situation. Thereafter, the remaining protesters, including Premachandra, launched a fresh protest in front of the Cinnamon Gardens Police, calling on all the protesters to be arrested together.

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