Sri Lankan opposition activists hold flaming torches during a demonstration led by Sri Lanka's ex-president Mahinda Rajapakse in Colombo on September 5, 2018. Sri Lanka's ex-president Mahinda Rajapakse's SLPP, or Sri Lanka People’s Peramuna (Front), staged a mass rally denouncing the government of President Maithripala Sirisena. (Photo: VCG)

One person died and over 80 were hospitalized as a massive protest rally held by the opposition ended in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo on Thursday, local media reported.

According to hospital officials from the Colombo National Hospital, one person had died from a cardiac arrest, eight had been hospitalized from food poisoning, eight with minor injuries and over 70 hospitalized due to excessive alcohol consumption.

They had been rushed to hospital by fellow protesters.

Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition held the rally on Wednesday to protest against the rising cost of living, the government's economic policies and call for a snap parliamentary poll.

The protest was organized by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's eldest son and parliamentarian, Namal Rajapaksa while the former president and his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also participated in the rally.

Joint Opposition legislators said thousands had attended the rally but an exact figure could not be confirmed.

The protest which started on Wednesday afternoon, ended early Thursday.