Sinhala nationalists protest in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 September 2002, 14:27 GMT]
Thousands of Sinhla nationalists, including hundreds of Buddhist monks took to streets in Capital Colombo, Tuesday, protesting against the government's decision to lift the ban on Liberation Tigers. The protestors were blocked by police as they attempted to march towards the Prime Minister's office.

The protest march began in front of Fort Railway station in down town Colombo Tuesday afternoon. They were blocked by a large number of police at Galle Face green, sources in Colombo said.



Parliamentarians and leading members of the nationalist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led the march.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga requested the United National Front government to furnish her with the names of LTTE members who are to be released in a prisoner swap, before the direct talks between the Government of the LTTE in Thailand on September 16.

This request has been made to the Prime Minister in a letter sent by the President, People's Alliance sources said.

The President made this request to ensure that no LTTE members who participated in major attacks are released, the sources added.