Aug 01, Colombo: The Police have arrested the first person, who forcibly entered the Presidential Secretariat by provoking the crowd and breaching the security fence when the anti-government protesters stormed the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo Fort on July 09.

A special police team has arrested the 37-year-old suspect this afternoon (Aug 01) in Maharagama area

A senior police officer reportedly said that when the officers at the Presidential Secretariat tried to stop this person who entered first, the suspect showing a knife threatened to slit his throat and die on the spot if he was not allowed to enter. His uncontrolled behavior has provoked the rest of the protesters and they stormed the Presidential Secretariat breaking the police barricades, according to the Police officer.

The police also said that this suspect was an active member since the beginning of the struggle.

According to the police, the businessman and a resident of Maharagama is the first suspect to be arrested in connection with the takeover of the Presidential Secretariat by force.

The police said that many suspects have been identified in this incident and that they will be arrested soon.