Forcibly entering Education Ministry 57 including Pali University student monks, Mudalige arrested

Ministry official was locked in for three hours  

• Student Buddhist monks and the IUSF members had surrounded the office room of the Education Minister in the department

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

A total of 57 individuals, including 48 student Buddhist monks of the Buddhist and Pali University and the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) convener Wasantha Mudalige, were arrested for breaking into the Education Ministry premises last evening, police said.  

They said 9 IUSF students including the convenor were arrested.  The protesters had entered the ministry and held the officers and staff as hostages for three hours while demanding the opening of a Buddhist and Pali university in Homagama.  

It was reported that the student Buddhist monks and the IUSF members had surrounded the office room of the Education Minister in the department. The staff and officers of the ministry claimed that the students blocked the doors and did not let anyone come out.

The protesters demanded to open the Buddhist and Pali Universities as soon as possible.  

On Wednesday (22) the police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse protesters during a protest organized by the Inter-University Buddhist Federation of the Homagama Buddhist and Pali University at Pitipana Junction in Homagama.