First major demonstration after the GGG Aragalaya ended Police disperse IUSF protest march from Union Place

Wasantha Mudalige and six others arrested   

• IUSF protesting against ‘Deal Ranil - Rajapaksa Junta’ and the illegal arrests of Galle Face Aragalaya activists    

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The Inter-University Student Federation (IUSF) took to the  streets in a protest march yesterday almost a week after the main Galle  Face Aragalaya was withdrawn, was dispersed by police riot squads with  water cannons and tear gas at Union Place, where six activists including  its Convener Wasantha Mudalige were arrested.    About a thousand student protesters of the IUSF gathered at  the Lipton Circus yesterday afternoon to show their displeasure over  the ‘Deal Ranil – Rajapaksa Junta’ and the illegal arrest of Gale Face Aragalaya activists in the past couple of weeks.

   
The students in numbers who were backed by young Buddhist  monks started to march towards Colombo Fort through the Ibbanwala  Junction in Town Hall, where they were blocked by contingents of Police  and Police Special Task Force personnel as well as the riot squads at union place.  

Police announcements were aired through three-wheelers  mounted with loudspeakers asking the protesters to stop immediately and  return as they have no legal means to conduct such march.   

The protesters didn’t pay heed to the police warning, and  the latter started attacking the forwarding march with water cannons and  a round of tear gas, forcing the students to flee.   
About five protesters were taken into custody including  popular activist cum actor Jehan Appuhamy, who carried a life-size cross  from Katuwapitiya to Galle Face Aragalaya in May.   
Police and riot squads in significantly high numbers went  after the retreating student masses towards the General Cemetery Borella  through Ward Place, whilst other large groups of protesters were  seen scattered in Ibbanwala Junction, Town Hall and Deans Road.   

Meanwhile, the Convener of IUSF and leading Galle Face Aragalaya activist Wasantha Mudalige had been arrested by police in Gas  Works Junction last evening when he was returning from the protest  march.   

Mudalige who had an arrest warrant against him was seen at the forefront of the IUSF protest march yesterday.   

• About five protesters were taken into custody including  popular activist cum actor Jehan Appuhamy
•  who carried a life-size cross  from Katuwapitiya to Galle Face Aragalaya in May