Colombo, July 05: Fifteen students were hurt when anti-riot police in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on Thursday broke up a protest march against alleged plans to privatise university education, demonstrators said.
Around 1,000 students belonging to the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) had gathered opposite the University Grants Commission offices to march to the finance ministry.
The students claimed the police attacked them and four of the 15 who were hurt had to receive hospital treatment for their injuries.
"Our aim was to hand over to the finance ministry a joint declaration signed by the students and the university academic staff against the privatisation plans of the government," said Ravindra Mudalige, from the IUSF.
The Union says the government wants to privatise university education, which at the moment is free, although nothing has been officially announced by the government.
Bureau Report
