Sri Lankan police have arrested three people during a protest against President Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to Jaffna today.
Sri Lankan riot police were heavily deployed around the Jaffna District Secretariat, armed Special Task Force officers circled the area on motorbikes and road blocks were erected to deter protesters gathered outside the Secretariat.
In spite of the heavy police presence, the protesters defiantly continued to demonstrate outside the Secretariat.
Protestors held placards that read: "Ranil Government! Stop anarchy and illegal acts!"
Prior to the protest, Sri Lankan police had filed a case to block the protest against the President's visit from taking place. The case named eight people, including Tamil National people's Front (TNPF) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnamablam, TNPF Secretary Selvarajah Kajendren and civil society leader Velan Swamigal.
However, yesterday Jaffna Magistrate Court dismissed the case. Judge A A Anandarajah stated that people cannot be prevented from protesting democratically as per the constitutional right of the country.
Ranil Wickremesinghe flew to Jaffna earlier today to participate in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi District’s Development Committee meeting as part of his four day visit.
