Sri Lankan police fired tear gas shells and swung batons on Monday to stop about 5,000 students from reaching the president's house to protest a proposed deal to share tsunami aid with Tamil Tiger rebels. A Buddhist monk, Dambara Amila, who is fasting to protest the deal was moved to a separate location after one of the shells fell close to his makeshift hut near where the students were blocked, about 200 meters (yards) from President Chandrika Kumaratunga's house in the city center. The monk returned later and resumed his protest. "The situation is under control, but the incidents have created a huge traffic jam in the city," police spokesman Rienzie Perera said. At least 20 student protesters were arrested.
