Monks led the protest by the university students

Dambara Amila thero, president of the National Bhikku Front (NBF), started a fast-to-death in front of Colombo Fort railway station on Saturday after another monk ended his protest.

Amila thero has been urging the president to withdraw a proposed deal to share tsunami relief aid with the Tamil Tigers.

Riot police fired tear gas on Monday as thousands of university students led by hundreds of NBF monks attempted to enter the president’s official residence.

Traffic chaos

BBC correspondent Elmo Fernando, who was at the scene, told BBC Sinhala (Sandeshaya) that the transport in Fort came to complete standstill after the attack.

Amila thero's health is deteriorating, NBF spokesman Vakamulle Uditha thero told the BBC.

The NBF, led by government’s coalition partner Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), is demanding Buddhist Mahanayakes get an assurance from the president that the proposed joint mechanism (JM) would not lead to the division of the country.

We are against giving an international recognition to the LTTE Dambara Amila thero

The fasting monk on Sunday told BBC Sandeshaya (Sinhala Service) that he would end the fast if the Mahanayakes guarantee that the JM would not lead to the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposed by the LTTE.

“We are against giving an international recognition to the LTTE.”

President Kumaratunga has assured Mahanayakes that the JM would not harm Sri Lanka’s security or territorial integrity. She has said the proposed structure would only last for a year.

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parliamentarian Omalpe Sobhita thero, ended his five-day fast on Saturday after Mahanayakes convey him president’s assurances.

Police on Friday fired water cannon and tear gas on protesting JHU monks who broke the barriers in front of presidential residence.