JVP-led monks oppose sharing tsunami relief aid with the LTTE

Members of Presidential Security Directorate (PSD) and other security forces have taken Dambara Amila thero into an ambulance and taken to the hospital.

The monk was removed on the request of Lunugamvehera Wimalananda thero, a relative of the fasting monk.

However, ten other monks have joined the fast after his removal.

The monks are surrounded by the police and the supporters, who earlier urged security forces not to remove Amila thero.

The situation in Colombo is calm, reporters said.

Mahanayake request

President of the Jathika Bhikkhu Peramuna (JBF), Amila thero, has been on a fast-to-death since last Saturday in front of Colombo Fort Railway Station.

He was forced to take away on Monday as the police fired tear gas to a protest led by studetns and monks linked to government's coalition partner Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

Amila thero has sat again for the fast on Tuesday.

His health has been since deteriorating, mainly due to the tear gas attack, a spokesman for the JBF told BBC Sinhala.

The JBF is also led by the JVP, who are threatening to resign from the government after midnight (SLT) on Wednesday unless the president withdraws from the proposed joint mechanism (JM) with the LTTE to share tsunami relief aid.

But the Buddhist Mahanayakes have urged the protesting monks to solve the differences through negotiations.