The UNP-led protest in Colombo against the fuel price hike came under a teargas attack by police a short while ago.

The participants staged a protest in front of the Fort railway station and tried to march towards the Telecom Roundabout when police fired teargas and water cannons at them.

Both lanes of Olcott Mawatha remain closed as a result of the chaos.

The UNP led by its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, leaders of the Democratic People’s Front, New Left Front, United Socialist Party, Nawa Sihala Urumaya as well as Platform for Freedom, United Labour Union, Democratic People’s Congress, Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, State Services Trade Unions Federation, Lanka National Estate Workers Union, National Educational Employees Union and the National Health Workers Union participated .