IUSF to go to HRCSL

BY Ruwan Laknath Jayakody-2015-04-02

The Inter-University Students' Federation (IUSF) is to file a complaint at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) alleging that the police and the Special Task Force attacked a protest march organized by them on 31 March.

The IUSF said that 24 undergrads were injured in the clash, and 10 who had received serious injuries due to baton blows to their heads and legs were hospitalized.

IUSF Convener Najith Indika said that two students were still in Ward 72 of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL).
He alleged that the police were uttering lies that six police constables sustained injuries and were admitted to the Police Hospital and one inspector was admitted to the NHSL, as claimed by Police Media Spokesman, ASP Ruwan Gunasekera.

"No police officer sustained injuries. What is the nature of their injuries? Show us photographic proof. They attacked us stating that we broke the law. The government said that they would end the oppressive era of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They talked as if they had made Temple Trees public property. We could not even go anywhere near Temple Trees. During Rajapaksa's time, we protested right in front of it. This government of good governance is selling education and spreading suppression. They promised us Rs 5,000 as the Mahapola scholarship when in fact they have reduced it to Rs 2,500," Indika alleged.

Further protests were held yesterday (01) at the Universities of Peradeniya, Ruhuna and Rajarata.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Office in a special statement released to the media said, the IUSF had not given any prior notification of their intention to hand over a letter to the Prime Minister's Office but had instead said they were going to hand it over to the University Grants Commission.

Despite the subsequent change of routes and plans, the IUSF did not heed the invitation extended to five members of the IUSF to come to 'Temple Trees' to handover the letter, but had instead decided to clash with the Police, the statement further explained.
"Such incidents are unfortunate and sad to note. If the protesters had acted peacefully allowing their representatives to heed our invitation, none of this would have happened," it read.