Massive anti-US protest in Sri Lankan capital

Thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims marched towards the heavily barricaded US embassy on Monday calling for ban of American brands, denouncing an anti-Islam film that has triggered protests across the world. Around 20,000 people carried placards urging boycott of US brand names in the second anti-US protest in the capital since Friday. The US embassy had shut down on Monday as a precautionary measure. Responding to criticism of the film, the government said on Sunday that steps have been taken to prevent it from being screened in the Buddhist majority island. Muslims constitute only seven per cent of the 20 million population.