Police used tear gas, water cannon to disperse JVP march

Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse a JVP-led NPP protest yesterday at the Ibbanwala Junction, Colombo.The NPP supporters gathered at the Viharamahadevi Park, marched to the Lipton Circus, demanding that the local government elections be held.

As the protest march started, police barricaded the roads near the Hospital Square, Pittala Junction, Union Place and some roads in Colpetty.The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court issued an order preventing Anura Kumara Dissanayake and 25 others from entering the Colombo Hospital Square area.

Subsequently, the Fort Magistrate’s Court, considering a request from the police, issued an order banning protest marches the NPP organised in the Colpetty and Fort area.

Thousands of police personnel and troops had been deployed in Colombo Fort, Maradana, Technical Junction, Hospital Square, Town Hall and Colpetty since morning.