‘University student clash could have been avoided’: PM’s Office
Thursday, 2 April 2015 00:37
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By Waruni Paranagamage
The Prime Minister’s Office yesterday, while expressing regret over the clash which took place between the police and university students on Tuesday (31) in Kollupitiya, said it could have been prevented if the protesters allowed their representatives to come to the Prime Minister’s office.
Although the Inter-University Student Federation (IUSF) had submitted a letter to the University Grants Commission (UGC), a statement said that they had not informed the PM’s office about the same.
The PM’s Office added that during the protest, the students had suddenly changed the direction of their march toward the PM’s office and requested permission to enter the premises to submit the letter.
While the PM’s officials were agreeing to take five representatives of the IUSF into the Temple Trees premises to make the submission, the notice was rejected by protesters and they then tried to enter to the premises by force.
The statement further asserted that the clash between the two parties commenced after the rejection of the notice by the students.
However, the Police Media Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara told the media that investigations would be carried out under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police in charge of the area.
A police officer who was injured during the clash was being treated at the National Hospital while another officer was being treated at the Police Hospital.
The students commenced a protest march near the Sri Jayawardenepura University and walked towards Colombo citing several grievances, including the curtailment of their education.
