SL Police open fire to avert election clash in Kiribathgoda

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 January 2010, 14:27 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police open fire and exploded tear gas canisters Sunday morning to avert a major clash between supporters of Sri Lanka's common opposition parties and the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) campaign of the non-cabinet rank minister Mervin Silva at Kribathgoda in Colombo district, media in Colombo reported.

A group of JVP and the main opposition United National Party (UNP) while engaged in distributing handbills supporting the common opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka came under attack at Galla junction by another group of persons of Mervin Silva armed with clubs and bottles, police sources said.

Supporters of UNP and JVP retaliated the attack by government supporters, according to reports.

Several vehicles were damaged and stones and pieces of glasses were seen strewn across the streets. Police reinforcements were rushed to area when the situation went beyond control.

However the campaign by the joint opposition had continued thwarting the attempt by the government gang to disrupt it, opposition sources said..

Earlier the Police are reported to have warned the JVP and UNP campaigners not to go ahead with handbill distribution campaign as there was a rival group waiting to attack them.