A tense situation took place in Moratuwa when street vendors in the area staging a protest against the police banning their business activities due to the prevailing situation in the country.

Street vendors claimed that they had lost their livelihood and there was no way of meeting daily expenses. “We don’t have food. Our children are starving and there is no solution to our problems,” they said whilst protesting opposite the Municipal Council building of Moratuwa.

Street vendors also stated that if the government wanted to restrict their activities, authorities should have given them a proper alternative solution.

“They (the police) are treating us like animals. They scolded me in filth. We are not criminals. We only need a solution as we have lost our livelihoods,” an elderly woman told the media.

A heated situation broke out when the Police attempted to intervene and disperse the protestors. The protestors reacted angrily to the police and said it was better die of COVID19 than dying of starvations.

Protestors burnt tires on the road and expressed their frustration with the police.