Man calls off fast

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Darma Sri ABEYRATNE

A man who was conducting a fast atop a 70 feet tall hoarding tower at the Horton Place roundabout, called off his fast last night after an official from the presidents office promised to look into his grievances without bias.

The man began his fast requesting President Mahinda Rajapaksa to eradicate the grave injustice committed to him by the people in authority.

The protester who called himself Rohitha from Galle, climbed up the tower around 3.30 a.m. yesterday morning and remained on the tower at a hight of 65 feet without food or drink. He was wearing a helmet, a sports bottom and a jacket.

Two printed posters and a handwritten poster were hung on the hoarding tower below him. His bag was also fastened to the tower below him.

A Police officer and Fire Brigade personnel spoke to him in the morning and asked him to give up the protest but he refused their request.

Senior Superintendent of Police Dassanayake told the Daily News the Police found out that his real name was Asanka de Soyza and a resident of Homagama.