Some were released on bail, but the leader of the organization and two well-known Buddhist monks will be questioned. The demonstration was peaceful but the police used tear gas and water cannons. Criticism of the government even from the United Nations.
Colombo () – Protests continue in Sri Lanka. Yesterday the police used tear gas and water cannons against the Inter-University Student Federation (IUSF) which was chanting slogans against President Ranil Wickremasinghe. About 20 people were arrested, of whom 16 were later released on bail. However, the police issued arrest warrants for the leader of the student organization, Wasantha Mudalige, and two well-known Buddhist monks. The Ministry of Defense has given permission for them to be detained for 90 days and interrogated.
In a statement issued today, the United Nations Human Rights Council condemned the repeated use of the emergency law to suppress dissent. The document notes that since April 22, the Sri Lankan authorities have used the state of emergency on numerous occasions to silence criticism of the government for price increases.
The students marched from Lipton Circle to Colombo’s Union Place, where police had erected barricades to stop protesters from advancing. Videos circulating on the internet show that the protest was largely peaceful, but riot police dispersed the protesters and chased after fleeing students. Men and women were beaten without distinction.
The officers claim that the students were violating police orders. “It’s the same old response,” some activists told . “But we know they just want to get promoted. However at this time they should think beyond their uniform.”
“We are assisting the application of the anti-terrorist law to Sinhalese youth,” others added. “It’s like we’ve gone back to the 1980s. The government wants to put an end to the Aragalaya”, the name of the popular struggle against the Sri Lankan government. In fact, Sri Lanka is in financial default, with a debt of more than 50 billion dollars. For months, the country has not been able to import fuel and inflation is over 54%, which prevents citizens from buying basic necessities, especially food and medicine. People’s protests against the high cost of living culminated on July 9 with the occupation of the presidential palace and the expulsion of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
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