20 Injured
In Weliweriya Clash
Updates 10:30 PM
One person reportedly died and several others were injured due to a clash with police and army personnel at Weliweriya town, during a protest against a drinking water crisis affecting the area.
A youth between the age of 30-35 who was hospitalized
with injuries suffered during the unrest succumbed to injuries, Gampaha Hospital sources told Ada Derana.
Residents of Weliweriya, Rathupaswala and surrounding villages had engaged in a protest today claiming that the chemical waste of a factory has polluted their drinking water.
Police had used tear gas and water cannons to disperse residents of the area who were blocking the road in protest of the issue.
Police spokesman Buddhika Siriwardena said that the protest which had been continuing for the past several hours at Belummahara Junction on the Colombo-Kandy road had caused severe traffic congestion and inconvenience to the public.
Army personnel were later called in to assist the police in dispersing the protestors, which had resulted in a tense situation as they refused abandon the agitation.
The police spokesman said the protestors were chased away with the help of army personnel as they had refused to disperse peacefully.
Meanwhile it has been reported that several residents of the area are currently holding talks with representatives of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa regarding the issue.
