Hartal in Amparai town

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 August 2003, 13:32 GMT]
General shutdown was observed in Amparai today and an organization called 'Committee to Safeguard East' led a protest march through Amparai town, sources in the eastern province said. Several hundred Muslims and Sinhalese participated in the march that started at Brown Road junction and proceeded to the clock tower, the sources added.

Schools and offices were closed but vehicular traffic continued as normal throughout the day, according to sources.

Placards calling the public not to allow handing over the interim administration tothe Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), not to allow segmenting the country and to de-merge the northeast province were carried by the protesters, sources said.

Mrs. Ferial Ashraff, leader of the National Unity Alliance (NUA) and wife of the late Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff, who founded the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, and several key members of the United National Front participated in the march.