Police now say they did not arrest the Rohingya refugees who were discovered this morning, but instead took them into protective custody for safekeeping.

They said reports saying the Rohingya refugees were arrested were false. 

"Had we not taken them into custody, the Buddhist monks who surrounded their safehouse would have assaulted them," a senior Police officer told Asian Mirror. 

He also confirmed that the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), which also has an office in Colombo, was aware of their presence in Sri Lanka. 

A number of Rohingya refugees were discovered at a safe house in Mount Lavinia this morning when a group of Buddhist monks surrounded the safe house, demanding their arrest.

The monks, members of the Sinhale Jathika Balamuluwa, said the government had blatantly violated an assurance made earlier this month that they would not allow Rohingya refugees in Sri Lanka.

They also stressed that the government should take stern action against the refugees.