Nov 06, Colombo: A large crowd gathered near the Sri Lankan parliament today held a demonstration to show support to the controversial Divineguma poverty alleviation bill and to urge the government to pass the legislation.

Thousands of people including members of Samurdhi trade unions and progressive people's organizations participated in the demonstration.

The demonstrators shouting slogans and carrying placards that read "Pride of Development", and "Hands off Divineguma" marched from Ethul Kotte Junction to Parliament Circle on Parliament Road, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.

Twenty-five organizations including the Samurdhi Managers and Coordinators Association, Samastha Lanka Samurdhi Development and Assistant Agricultural Research Products Officers Association, Sri Lanka General Workers Association and Samurdhi Managers Association have organized the demonstration.

The supporters say the bill, aimed at poverty alleviation by the development at the grassroots level uplifts the lives of the poor people.

The controversial bill has run into opposition from certain sectors and was subjected to scrutiny by the Supreme Court twice over its constitutionality.