Police use water cannon to disperse protesters in Jaffna

Police on Sunday used water cannon against hundreds of people protesting in Jaffna against President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit on Thai Pongal day.

 The protest was organised by families of the youth who had disappeared. The protesters called on the government to release all Tamil political prisoners.

Police erected barricades at the Nallur Arasati Road-Vaiman Road intersection to obstruct protesters. A tense situation arose when the protesters tried to pull down the barricades. The Police used water cannon in an attempt to break up the rally.

However, protests continued  at the location while shouting slogans against the President and demanding answers from the Government.

Heavy police and military personnel deployment was witnessed in the area.

President Wickremesinghe met with a series of religious leaders and prominent figures during his visit to Jaffna on Sunday. He first visited the Sri Naga Viharaya on Sunday morning and met with its Chief Incumbent Meegahajandure Siriwimala Thera before engaging in religious observances.