The army was called in a short while ago as the stand-off between the police and demonstrators from the joint opposition led by the United National Party (UNP) continued outside the Colombo Fort railway Station. Several persons including Gampaha District UNP Parliamenterian Dr. Jayalath Jayewardene also sustained injuries during the running battles, as the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd over nearly 5,000, eyewitnesses said.
The demonstration was held to protest at the recent increase in fuel and the killing of a fishermen at Chilaw.
The UNP had earlier called on all opposition activists irrespective of party coulours to join today’s protest to display solidarity with the common cause.
A similar protest by the left-leaning Janatha Vimukthi Perumana (JVP) on Tuesday was subsequently tear-gassed and eventually dispersed by police.
ST