District leader, minister Lakshman Kiriella, announcing the campaign yesterday (26), said thousands of party supporters would converge on Kandy.

Meanwhile, Badulla MP Vadivel Suresh says he would take to the streets with the more than 1.5 million estate labour community, as well as Muslims, against ‘Pada Yatra’.

They would rise up against the protest march if it attempted to provoke racism, he told the media.

Attempts at sabotage

Commenting, a joint opposition spokesman accused the government of creating an unnecessary clash to sabotage their demonstration.

Police have a responsibility to prevent any untoward incident, as they have in advance been informed about the route the protestors would be taking, said the spokesman.

Sri Lanka Mahajana Party’s Sameera Senanayake told the media they were prepared to face any attack to ‘Pada Yatra’ in Kandy.

In view of these developments, police are preparing to obtain a court order to suspend the protest march, according to reports reaching Sri Lanka Mirror.