Tear Gas & Water Cannons to disperse student protest in Peradeniya

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan authorities used tear gas and water cannons during a protest on Sunday (3) morning by students attached to the University of Peradeniya.

The University students were protesting against the present state of affairs in the country and were demanding solutions to the issues faced by fellow students.

The protest march by the university students was scheduled to commence from the University of Peradeniya premises and proceed towards Kandy town.

However, Sri Lanka Police had installed barricades at the Galaha Junction not far from the university, and a heavy police presence was also witnessed in the area along with the water cannons.

Police Special Task Force personnel were also called in for security.

University Students accompanied by their lecturers proceeded towards the Galaha Junction, and tensions boiled over when they attempted to remove the barricades set up by the police.

Scuffles were also reported during the attempt made by the students to move forward.

The protest was organized by the main student body of the University of Peradeniya, and staff from the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital also supported it.

Sri Lanka Police and Riot Police decided to use water cannons to disperse the crowd and thereafter fired tear gas.

Following the tense situation, the protesting university students decided to sit down on the road as a mark of protest.

Once again a tense situation arose, and police fired tear gas at the students for the second time.

Despite not being allowed to move ahead to the Kandy town, the university students and their support groups protested at Galaha Town until 3 PM.