People from villages are being collected using CTB buses for the rally presided by the President to be held today (4^th) at Sanath Jayasuriya Esplanade at Matara. CTB buses from depots from various areas have been deployed for the operation and our reporter at Matara says more than 300 buses from various districts are operating in the town.   

Arrangements have been made to transport people from Devinuwara to Matara from buses that have been obtained from Ambalangoda, Moratuwa, Kirindiwela, Divulapitiya, Ududhumbara, Mahawa, Matale, Kandy, Homagama and Yatinuwara depots. People from Weligama are to be transported by buses brought from Elpitiya, Valachchena, Kalmune, Ratnapura, Galle, Kuliyapitiya, Angoda, Kalawana, Koggala and Udugama depots.  People around Matara are to be transported by buses brought from Deraniyagala, Wattegama, Kadawatha, Negomba, Godakawela, Ambilipitiya, Horana, Tangalle, Welisara, Kalmune, Potuwil, Wariyapola, Nawalapitiya and Udatenna depots. Also buses from Yatinuwara, Matara, Rakwana, Panadura, Welisara, Kalutara and Meetotamulla have been provided for the transport of people from Kamburupitiya.  

Meanwhile, a CTB bus from Wattegama depot bearing Reg. No. WP NA-2552 and a Bus from Katubedda depot with Reg. No. WP NA-1232 have been parked to hide the ‘Sathyagraha’ being carried out by unemployed graduates in Matara town. Another bus assigned to carry police officers too has been parked here to conceal the ‘Sathyagaraha’ from the people says our reporter 

Pandemonium reigned at Beveraliya in Deniyaya yesterday when a group of government supporters confronted some UNP MPs and their supporters who were heading towards the ‘controversial palace’ built in the area.

It is alleged the government had constructed

this palace with modern facilities for the use of the sister of a VVIP hailing from the area.

A team of UNP MPs including General Secretary Tissa Attanayake headed towards this palace in Beveraliya in a procession along with their supporters to have glimpse of it. Among those who took part in the procession were Lakshman Kiriella, Palitha Range Bandara, Sagala Ratnayake and Ravi Karunanayake.  

Mr. Bandara told the Daily Mirror yesterday that their path was blocked at certain points on the way by placing stones.

“I was the first to reach the site on a motor bike. The proprietor of this land Thusitha Ranawaka came to the gate and talked to me. He even invited me for tea,” the UNP MP said.

He said there were commotions at certain places, and some UNP supporters and media personnel who were covering the event were even manhandled allegedly by some government supporters.

“However, SLFP Deniyaya organizer Vijaya Dahanayake intervened and defused the tension. So, we were able to avoid major clashes,” he said.

Deputy Minister Dilan Perera had also gone to the scene with a team of his supporters and allegedly tried to fan the tense situation.