The Police Anti-riot Squad fired tear gas and water cannons on university students who staged a protest and attempted to proceed towards Parliament, a short while ago.
The Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) this afternoon commenced the protest from Nelum Pokuna to Parliament in protest against suppression of student activism and several other demands. Over 3000 students representing universities island-wide participated in the protest, shouting slogans and urging the State protect free education.
One track of the road from Parliament to Rajagiriya was closed off, creating traffic heavy jams around Rajagiriya, Baththaramulla and Borella areas.
As the protesting students reached the Parliament road, the police had used barricades to prevent them from proceeding any further, and later fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters.
