As Tamil supporters continue to protest in downtown Ottawa, the city is facing a huge bill for police and paramedic services needed for those vowing to remain until the Canadian government takes definitive action towards Sri Lanka.
The final cost won't be known for some time, said Coun. Eli El-Chantiry, chairman of the police services board.
"It's going to be hard for us but right now we're prepared to deal with the consequences," El-Chantiry told CTV Ottawa.
While some downtown businesses thrive from the thousands of people congregated around Parliament Hill, others are feeling the strain after five days of demonstrations. The washrooms at the World Exchange Plaza have been closed after being trashed.
The Ottawa Police Service began distributing pamphlets to the demonstrators on Friday that outlined both their Charter rights and responsibilities under the Criminal Code, along with police protocols.
Protestors say they're determined to stay for as long as it takes as their numbers swell over the holiday weekend.
Tamil activists want the Canadian government to intervene in what they call the Sri Lankan government's genocide against the Tamil people in the country's northern and eastern regions.
The rebels have fought since 1983 to create an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils, who have faced decades of marginalization by successive governments controlled by ethnic Sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.
Government forces in Sri Lanka have been saying for months they are in a final push to defeat the rebels and end the war after a string of major victories in which the rebel administrative capital and main bases were captured.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Kristy Kirkup
