Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) launched Saturday a massive protest against the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga and urged a presidential election.

The UNP's "Janabala Meheyuma" or the Operation People's Power commenced Saturday morning at Devinuwara, a coastal town 165 kilometers south of the capital Colombo.

Several thousands of the UNP supporters gathered at the starting point of the march which would reach its finale with a grand public rally in Colombo on July 12, organizers said.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, while addressing the gathering,said the time was now ready for the people to force the exit of Kumaratunga's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government.

"They have broken all their attractive election pledges, even their alliance is now in two pieces. So it is high time people are given the chance to vote at a presidential election," Wickremesinghe said.

The aim of the 10-day march is to force the UPFA government out of office by urging a presidential election, said the UNP.

The UPFA coalition was split mid June when its main partner, the JVP or the People's Liberation Front, walked out of the government protesting against the Kumaratunga government's joint deal with the Tamil Tigers for tsunami relief delivery to Tamil regions.

The UNP says they are not interested in toppling the government in parliament though it is now reduced to a minority.

Instead their focus is centered on the next presidential election which they say must be held by November this year.

However the government contends that Kumaratunga's presidential term would only end next year.

Wickremesinghe has already announced his candidature whereas the UPFA candidate is yet to be named.

Sri Lankan President Kumaratunga who is in her second term is constitutionally barred from contesting a third time.

Source: Xinhua