Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)  Anura Kumara Dissanayake today vowed to continue their campaign demanding that Local Government elections be held as soon as possible.

The JVP leader was addressing his party supporters after police, using tear gas and water cannons dispersed a protest march of the National Peoples Movement (NPP) at Union Place Colombo.

Mr Dissanayake said tear gas and water cannons would not stop them from continuing their campaign for elections.

He said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe was confined to limited areas such as the Parliament and the President’s House, but does not have the support of the public and therefore cannot reach out to the public.

“Though the Police used tear gas against our supporters today, they would eventually end on our side”, he said.

He said that police should come forward to protect the people and not the families who are corrupt.

Earlier, the JVP backed NPP launched their protest march from  near the Nelum Pokuna area and were heading towards Union place when they were interrupted by the Police .

Senior members of the JVP argued with the Police for more than half an hour demanding that they be allowed to march to the Fort area.

However, Police said that in view of a court order they would not be allowed to continue their protest march.

Eventually, police used tear gas and water cannons and dispersed the protesters.

Some 20 persons were injured in the process of dispersing from the area.

Earlier in the day the Fort Magistrate’s Court issued an order preventing any protest marches around the Kollupitiya and Colombo Fort areas. The order said they could not enter Galle Face, the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s House, the Finance Ministry premises etc.

The order was issued on 26  persons including Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

(sundaytimes.lk)