Sri Lankan police fired tear-gas to try to enforce a ban on rallies as thousands poured into Colombo today for a huge opposition protest against the suspension of parliament.
Witnesses said tear-gas was fired to try to disperse a crowd of several thousand heading into Colombo from the beach and fishing resort of Negombo to the north. It was one of six marches that planned to converge on the capital despite a police threat of arrests.
Several protesters threw rocks in response, witnesses said.
Despite the ban on rallies and a heavy police and army presence, with many in riot gear, opposition leaders said the protest would go ahead as planned.
"We have to go ahead regardless of what the police do," said Mr Karu Jayasuriya, deputy leader of the main opposition United National Party. This is a political attempt to suppress opinion opposite to that of the government."
The demonstrations are the latest confrontation between the government and the opposition since the ruling party lost its majority in parliament last month with the defection of a key ally.
The opposition called the demonstrations after voicing outrage that President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga had suspended parliament just as it was gearing up for a no-confidence motion on her minority ruling party.
The opposition said it would try to impeach Ms Kumaratunga when parliament is returns in September, but that appears difficult as it is far short of the needed two-thirds majority to pass an impeachment in the 225-seat legislature.