The Police took into custody several Rohingya refugees who were hiding in a safe house in Mount Lavinia. 

A group of Buddhist monks, who surrounded the safe house this morning, sought the Police intervention to arrest the refugees. The monks said their presence in Sri Lanka was a grave threat to national security. 

The monks alleged that the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) was aware of their presence in Sri Lanka. 

Earlier this month, the government assured that there was no plan to allow Rohingya refugees to visit Sri Lanka. 

The monks, who were members of the Sinhale Jathika Balamuluwa, a hardcore Sinhala-Buddhist organisation, said, the government had blatantly violated this assurance. They also stressed that the government should take stern action against the refugees. 

When contacted by Asian Mirror, informed Police sources said it was not clear as to when the arrested refugees arrived in Sri Lanka.