Police fire tear gas and water cannons at protesting university students

Colombo (News 1st): Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse a university students' protest this afternoon at the Lotus Roundabout in Colombo Fort. The Inter-University Students' Federation organized a protest claiming that the Government is trying to legalize private universities. The students began the protest from opposite the Fort Railway Station and attempted to march towards the Presidential Secretariat. As roadblocks were set up along the Lotus Road, the protestors requested for a discussion with the President or the Prime Minister. However, the Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd as they were attempting to forcibly proceed towards the Presidential Secretariat. Convener of the Inter-University Students' Federation Maheel Bandara Dehideniya noted that these highly guarded officers are now trying to bring a private university act under another name called the Higher Education Quality Assurance Accreditation Commission. He added that they are trying to create a commission where the structures that regulate education will be transformed into a nominal structure. He said the Minister of Higher Education will appoint members for this commission. Even after police fired tear gas and water cannons, the crowd continued protesting along the Lotus Road for about an hour.