President Rajapaksa

Thousands took to the streets of Colombo while the parliament was preparing to vote for the 18th amendment to the constution of Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne presented the new amendment to the house.

One of the pposition leaders had told the BBC that police have arrested the wife and two brothers-in-law of the owner of a printing press which is making opposition posters, as they’ve been unable to find the press owner himself

The owner gave himself up later in order to release his family members.

Sri Lankans have been demonstrating in the capital, Colombo, as parliament debates a bill that will significantly change the constitution to increase the powers of the president, currently Mahinda Rajapaksa. The measure is all but certain to be passed.

Pro and anti government protesters

Activists from the main opposition United National Party paraded down a street near parliament.

They unfurled black flags and bore a mock funeral wreath and coffin for democracy and unflattering posters depicting Mr Rajapaksa with a Hitler-style moustache.

There was a stalemate as they got to a police barrier where a water cannon truck stood ready. They set fire to an effigy of the president and tossed it, and there was alarm when a policeman’s clothes briefly caught fire.

Earlier several hundred supporters of the government staged their own rally supporting the amendments, in the city centre.