Trinco protesters want arms to protect themselves

The Trincomalee-based North and East Sinhala Organization yesterday urged the Government not to give into the LTTE and take steps that would weaken the security forces in the north and east.

The organization made this request in a petition handed over to a Presidential Secretariat official in Colombo after a protest march that began from the Pettah Bodhiraja Viharaya last evening.

The protesters carried slogans which read, "Arm Sinhala villagers" and "Protect our military intelligence officers". The marchers were stopped at the entrypoint of the recently declared Fort high security zone where the Presidential Secretariat official received the petition.

(http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050724/news/21.html)