JANABALAYA PROTEST CONVERGES IN COLOMBO
MR-GOTA ALSO PARTICIPATES POLICE, SPECIAL TASK FORCE AND THE RIOT CONTROL SQUADS PRESENT MR SAYS PROTEST WOULD GO ON TILL DAWN-BUSLOADS OF PEOPLE ARRIVED AND ASSEMBLED AT SELECTED LOCATIONS
Large crowds from around the country converged in the Colombo Fort area by yesterday afternoon for the Janabalaya Kolambata protest against the government organized by the Joint Opposition.
The government had stationed police personnel, backed by the Special Task Force and the Riot Control Squads, to face any untoward incident
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa joining the protest said that it was a huge success and would go on till dawn.
Busloads of people, who arrived in Colombo assembled at selected locations in and around the city and marched to the city centre shouting slogans and displaying placards against the Government.
The organizers of the Joint Opposition brought in their supporters in buses from different parts of the country to converge at selected places such as Kelaniya, Wellawatte, Town Hall and Maradana.
For the first time, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa participated in a political protest along with his elder brother Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa.
There were fewer vehicles on the Colombo roads even during the rush hours yesterday as most people stayed away from their activities in the city in anticipation of possible disruption of public activities due to the protest.
It was reported that some offices closed their day’s operation by noon yesterday enabling workers to go home early. In some instances, some buses transporting people to Colombo came under attack in the Badulla District.
The Government had stationed Police personnel, backed by the Special Task Force and the Riot Control Squads, to face any untoward incident.
The venue of the rally was kept a secret until the last moment.