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People line the streets of Toronto on Friday January 30, 2009 to protest events in Sri Lanka.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)

View larger image Protesters clog Front and Bay Streets on Jan. 30, 2009. Nijana Yogaselvam says Canada needs to help get aid to civilians in Sri Lanka's war zone.

Thousands of protesters clogged Front and Bay Streets during Friday's afternoon rush hour as part of a demonstration against the Sri Lankan government.

Protesters initially gathered at Union Station early Friday as well as at the intersection of Yonge and Bloor Streets.

On Friday night, some held a 12-hour vigil at St. Joseph and Our Lady of Health Church to pray for those caught up in the conflict, and to raise awareness about the issue.

They say they are angry about the growing number of civilian deaths in that country during ongoing battles with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers.

They are urging Canada's government to step in on behalf of an estimated 250,000 civilians trapped in the war-torn north of the Pacific island nation.

"There's no food and no aid going to them," says protester Nijana Yogaselvam. "We need our government to step in. We've lost enough -- we need to wake up Canada."

Pedestrians had to snake around protesters chanting "We want justice" and "We want peace."

Toronto is home to one of the largest Tamil populations outside Sri Lanka, and a number of protests have been staged in recent days.

Sri Lanka's Singhalese-dominated government has been fighting the LTTE since 1983. The group is seeking an independent Tamil homeland.

However, the fighting has spiraled out of control in recent month, with several reports of mass civilian casualties emerging from the area.

Reports from the area suggest the rebels are now cornered in a small area of jungle and villages located in the island's northeast.

Communication to this area is extremely limited, and many Canadians with relatives in that area say they have been out of contract for several weeks.

Tamil leaders around the world have urged those in Sri Lanka to accept a negotiated peace settlement.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in Sri Lanka since the conflict began.

On Thursday night, thousands gathered along University Avenue to rally for the same cause. 

With files from The Canadian Press