University students began protesting on Thursday, April 28 against the privatisation of education, and the Malabe Medical College. However the students’ protests were met with police’s barriers, tear-gas and high-pressure water cannons.

The Medical Faculty Student Activists Committee commenced the protest opposite the Medical Faculty premises in Colombo, to mark the completion of 100 days since they launched a Satyagraha campaign against the Malabe Medical College, and the privatisation of education.

Among the protesting students were student monks, and students from other universities who attempted to march towards the Presidential Secretariat via the Lotus Roundabout in Colombo Fort. But their efforts ended owing to a police blockade across the road.

Police informed the students of the court order obtained against the protest march, but the students disregarded the order and proceeded in an attempt to remove the barricades and march on, prompting the police to fire tear gas and water cannons.

The demonstrators then protested against the police and staged a sit-down rally on the road adjacent to the Sambodhi Viharaya in Fort.

Meanwhile six persons who were injured during the demonstration have been admitted to the Accident Ward of the National Hospital in Colombo. According to the spokesperson for the hospital, one of the injured is a police officer.

The hospital spokesperson noted that two students were admitted for in house treatment, while one of them is undergoing surgery.

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