A tense situation arose this morning (16) when the police took action not to allow buses carrying people from Nochchiyagama to participate in the protest to be held in Colombo by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

When the group was about to start their journey from Nochchiyagama town center, the Nochchiyagama OIC and other police officers said that buses could not be allowed to travel according to the revised health regulations annonced yesterday.

The police said the protestors had not obtained permission from a competent authority.

The enraged mob blocked the Anuradhapura-Puttalam road and obstructed other vehicles. The police then proceeded to use alternative routes for vehicles traveling on the road.

Former Ministers P. Harrison, Chandrarani Bandara and former Provincial Councilor Aruna Buddhika Gunasekara, Leader of the Opposition of the Nochchiyagama Pradeshiya Sabha Samarakoon Ratnayake also came and held discussions with the police but the police did not allow them to board the buses.

There was a heated exchange of words between the group and the police. Crowds chanted slogans and blocked the road for nearly an hour.

The group then diverted the buses and left, saying they were traveling to Colombo via an alternative route.