The largest “Hartal” since 1953 is currently taking place in cities and some villages throughout Sri Lanka. At around 12.00 last night, firecrackers were set off in the main lanes of some villages.
By this morning, almost all cities were closed, and municipal hospitals and schools were closed.
Although the Minister of Transport stated that it is proposed to run around 253 trains today, it was reported that the Colombo Fort Railway Station had been closed till around 07.00 this morning. All private buses were out of service, but all buses belonging to the Ceylon Travel Board were seen operating but not as frequent as usual.
Protests are already taking place in almost all the cities where it is impossible to say which Hartal is not. Roads in Madampe and Kahawatta have also been closed. Massive crowds have also participated in Matugama town.
Meanwhile, Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela has resigned today after considering a request made by the police regarding the Galle Face public protest.
Meanwhile, protesters have designated today as “Naked Day”. It is located in the “Horu Go Village” premises near the Sri Lanka Parliament. They started the protest as a “Nandeta Jangiyak”. Women’s and men’s underwear is on display at the Diyatha Uyana access road barrier near the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Parliament is convening today as a special session and a large number of people are already protesting in front of the Parliament entrance.
Meanwhile, at around 3.00 pm today, the Sri Lanka Police fired tear gas at young students on one of the roads leading to the Sri Lankan Parliament. But they did not leave the place and the struggle at that place had been going on for about two days before.