IUSF to protest in Colombo tomorrow

The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) announced yesterday (16) that it will stage a mass protest on 18 October in Colombo to condemn Government actions such as the arresting of individuals involved in the protest under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

“It will be two months since the arrest of the IUSF Convenor Wasantha Mudalige and Ven. Siridhamma Thera on 18 October. They were unlawfully detained without even being presented before a court under the PTA on 18 August at an protest organised by the IUSF. So we will conduct a mass protest against all these unlawful acts demanding the release of all detainees, and the revocation of the act. We call upon all individuals who value democracy as well as trade unions, activists of the ‘aragalaya’ to join us on 18 October,” a representative of the IUSF said addressing the media yesterday (16) in Colombo.

Calling the tearful speech made by Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardana at a political meeting in Kalutara “staged”, the representative stated that the public can no longer be fooled with such acts. He stressed that the agenda behind all these “dramas” is to divert people’s attention so that they do not realise that the Government is unable to provide solutions for the acute problems of the general public of this country.

Referring to the incident in Nawalapitiya yesterday, he condemned the Police’s action to arrest 15 protestors at the site to protect the “Pohottuwa”.