1 dead in Sri Lanka protests

One person died and more than 80 others were hospitalised after a massive opposition protest rally in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, media reports said.

According to the Colombo National Hospital, the person died of cardiac arrest. Among those admitted, eight were treated for food poisoning, while another eight suffered minor injuries. More than 70 people were hospitalised after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, Xinhua news agency reported.

The protest was organised by Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition on Wednesday to voice opposition to the rising cost of living and the government's economic policies. Protesters also demanded that the government call an early parliamentary election.

The rally was organised by parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Both Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also took part in the demonstration.

Leaders of the Joint Opposition claimed that thousands of people participated in the rally, although an exact attendance figure was not immediately available.

The demonstration began on Wednesday afternoon and continued for several hours before concluding early on Thursday. The large turnout and the health-related incidents reported during the event drew attention as the opposition stepped up its campaign against the government.