Harrowing experience of employee who was caught in the crossfire

It was chaos on Monday when pro-Government protestors turned violent towards peaceful protesters at Colombo's Galle Face promenade after they marched from Temple Trees, as the Police looked on.

For ordinary passengers who were on their way to Colombo from other sub- urban towns by buses and private vehicles, it was a harrowing experience for them as they were caught in the cross- fire.

One employee who was travelling in a private bus was stopped by unknown people near High Level road in Maharagama and told to find another bus or walk to the protest site of the aragalaya at

Galle Face Green, as small groups of individuals organised a solidarity march fo l l owing the attacks.

Once he got onto another bus, that was also stopped midway and he was warned by another group of angry protesters who said if they failed to stop the service, it would result in the burning of the bus. There were no tuks available there as most people were rushing to their residences fearing further violence on the streets.

After hours of waiting amid the chaos, this ordinary citizen managed to get a ride in an expensive tuk to get back home. But it was surreal to witness along the way, protesters smashing windows and attacking buses before setting them on fire by late evening. This he watched later in the late night news bulletins.