THOUSANDS of trade unionists, activists and students marched in Sri Lanka’s capital today to demand the government end its crackdown on the cost-of-living protests.

The rally in Colombo condemned the government’s attempts to intimidate protesters through military surveillance, arbitrary arrests and direct attacks by authorities.

Sri Lankans have been protesting for months over the economic crisis that has led to severe shortages in many essential imported items such as medicines, fuel and cooking gas.