Six monks of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) were today noticed to appear before Colombo Fort Magistrate on March 12 over trespassing into Minister Rishad Bathiudeen’s office on April 23, 2014.

The group of monks, who were members of the BBS organization, entered into Minister Rishad Bathiudeen's ministry in search of Watarela Wijitha Thera who was a "rival" monk of BBS General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera.

Accordingly Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage issued notices on six monks Wellampitiye Sumana Damma Thera, Amunumulle Jinaratane Thera, Passaramulle Pangnasara Thera, Ariyawansagama Samidda Thera, Dewagiriye Chandissara Thera and Delwala Saranasiri Thera to appear before Court on March 12.

The General Secretary of the BBS, Galagodatte Gnanasara thera did not take part in the protest at the time and Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was also not in his Ministry premises when the BBS monks stormed the building.  Ministry officials and the police assured the BBS that Vijitha thera was not in the building.

The monks then left the Ministry only to return again saying they heard the venerable Watarekke Vijitha thero was in the Minister’s room and said they wanted to search his room and inspect CCTV footage.

However a heated exchange of words resulted between the police and the BBS when two police officers questioned the right the BBS members had to conduct a search operation for the monk.