The Police fired tear gas on a protest staged by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) in Colombo today.

The protest was staged to demand the Government to hold the Local Government (LG) election next month.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB MPs took part in the protest despite the heavy rain.

The Police had earlier warned that since an election has been declared a protest march cannot be staged under election laws.

However the SJB went ahead with the protest march and were obstructed by the Police in Maradana.

The Police later fired water cannons on the protest march and tear gas to disperse the protesters.

Six protesters including four Buddhist monks had been arrested last night over a protest demonstration held near the Kelaniya University at Dalugama, Kelaniya, the Police said.

The Police said they had to fire tear gas and use water cannons to disperse the protestors who blocked the Kandy- Colombo Main Highway near the Kelaniya University.

The arrested Buddhist monks, students of the Kelaniya University, identified as aged between 23 and 26 and were residing in temples in Kahaduwa, Thummodara, Pitabeddara and Mirissa. The male students are identified as residents of Anguruwathota and Kinniya.