KARUNA SHINSHO, CNN ANCHOR: In Sri Lanka, at least two people are dead after clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators in Colombo, and Sri Lanka's opposition leader says he survived what he is calling an assassination attempt. Ikbal Atas (ph) has details.</s>IKBAL ATAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Heavily armed police, backed by security forces personnel, sealed off entry points into Colombo Thursday morning as one of Sri Lanka's largest demonstrations, Indecorate (ph) paralyzed the capital. It was called by the main opposition United National Party to protest President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratun's decision to suspend parliament ahead of a vote of no confidence. She has also called for a referendum next month to seek public views on a new constitution. An estimated 15,000 demonstrators chanting Buddhist stanzas, or slogans, calling for the reconvening of parliament crowded city entrances, mostly from the north and south. In a northern city suburb, police opened fire, killing one protester. Another was killed in a nearby area, but police said they were investigating who was responsible. More than 70 have been injured in various incidents, while police have arrested over 20. Opposition leader, Ranil Wickremasinghe, a former prime minister, accused the police of trying to assassinate him during a visit to Colombo's southeastern suburb of Nugegoda. He said police began firing, but he was saved by his bodyguards who whisked him away. However, Sri Lanka's police chief, Lucky Kodituwakku, told CNN, "There is nothing like that." He said the opposition leader had only complained to him about police firing tear gas and rubber bullets. The protesters have dispersed, but police and security forces continue to patrol the streets to prevent any further violence. Ikbal Atas, CNN, Colombo.
In Sri Lanka, at Least Two Dead After Clashes Between Police and Anti-Government Demonstrators