Ranil wants report on student, Police clash

Higher National Diploma in Engineering (HNDE) students protested at Dehiwala junction yesterday condemning the treatment and arrest of 39 students by Police during a standoff outside the University Grants Commission on Thursday – Pix by Shehan Gunasekara

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a report into the clash between the Police and students at Ward Place on Thursday.

The Prime Minister has told Law and Order Minister Tilak Marapone to order an investigation into the incident through the IGP and submit a report on the findings.

The Police fired teargas and water towards hundreds of students protesting near the University Grants Commission (UGC) at Ward Place yesterday.

Students of the Higher National Diploma in Engineering (HNDE) staged the protest and some of them had attempted to enter the UGC premises.

 A tense situation arose as the students blocked traffic along Ward Place and demanded attention to some of their concerns.

The Police then fired teargas and used water cannons to disperse the protesters. Some journalists covering the protest were also assaulted.

The Police later arrested 39 students. Several students were injured in the incident. (Colombo Gazette)