Inter-University Student Federation (IUSF) convener Madhushan Chandrajith was arrested by police for violating the election law during a protest held in Colombo together with ten others yesterday (10).
This protest had been organized objecting against several issues including the establishment of private medical colleges.The IUSF had organized a protest yesterday (10) in front of the Colombo Fort railway station objecting against the national educational policy framework and the setting up of private medical colleges. The police and the police anti-riot unit were also called to the venue.
When the protestors tried to move from the Fort railway station towards the President’s Secretariat, the police obstructed it.There was tension between the police and the protestors. Madhushan Chandrajith, convener of the Inter-University Student Federation, was arrested by police.
Later, officials of the Election Commission, who visited the venue, informed the university students that protests cannot be held during an election season. However, despite the instructions, the protestors moved ahead and several other students were arrested by police.
The rest of the protesters dispersed and the Fort Police took into custody the placards brought by the protesters.
Rakshana Sriyantha