A protest was held by the members of Hindu Munani group on Monday in front of the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in TTK Road.
The group had gathered to protest against the alleged demolition of a temple in Trincomalee.
The activists set fire to image of Mahinda Rajapaksa and attempted to throw it in front of the police but the flames engulfed a autorickshaw which had carried the effigy and destroyed it.
Police have arrested 16 protestors. Traffic on TTK Road and adjoining roads were disrupted for nearly an hour.
The Commission is located in the TTK Road extension that runs alongside Hotel Raj Park.
