A 23-year-old man was arrested by Fort Police after he climbed and remained seated on a traffic signal tower near the Presidential Secretariat, demanding a meeting with the President.

The young man, a resident of Nawamahasenpura in Welikanda, climbed onto an L-shaped section of the tower — approximately 20 feet high — causing a public disturbance. The incident occurred on 5 July.

Police stated that they received a report about a person perched atop the traffic signal tower near the entrance to the Presidential Secretariat. A police team was dispatched to the scene, and officers attempted to persuade the man to come down. However, he refused to comply and remained on the tower.

The situation caused heavy traffic congestion along Galle Road, especially near the NSA roundabout leading towards the Galle Face entrance.

To ensure the safety of the individual and the public, police coordinated with the Colombo Municipal Council to deploy a fire truck. Using its equipment, they were able to bring the man down safely without injury.

He was subsequently taken into police custody for further investigation. (Courtesy: Lankadeepa)