May 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka Police used tear gas and high pressure water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters marching in the capital Colombo Saturday to mark the 50-day anniversary since the beginning of the ‘People’s Struggle’ against the government.

Police fired tear gas and water cannons when the protesters trying to enter Bank Mawatha near the World Trade Center to reach the protest site at the Galle Face Green removed barricades and clashed with the the police.

The Police have obtained a court order banning the protesters from entering several roads and State institutions in Fort area blocking access to the ‘Gota Go Gama’ protest site at Galle Face.

Colombo Fort Additional Magistrate Thilina Gamage has issued an enjoining order against the march which was scheduled to start from Kollupitiya Junction.

The order has been issued prohibiting protesters entering Chaitya Road and Janadhipathi Mawatha from NSA roundabout, York Street and Lady Bastian Mawatha from Ceramic Junction, Mudalage Mawatha, Hospital Street, Bank Mawatha, Baron Jayatilake Mawatha, Chatham Street and Canal Road

Police detained three protesters but released them a short while later.