Heavy traffic on Baseline Road due to IUSF protest march

One lane of the road from Welikada Prison to Borella has been blocked by a group of Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) protesters, Ada Derana correspondent says.

Owing to the situation, severe traffic congestion is reported along the Baseline Road in Colombo.

Earlier this evening, the police fired two rounds of tear gas and used water cannons to disperse the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) protesters at the Flower Road and Nelum Pokuna Theatre.

The IUSF launched a protest march this afternoon, demanding the immediate release of IUSF convenor Wasantha Mudalige and Inter-University Bhikkhu Federation (IUBF) Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thero.

The police blocked Bauddhalooka Mawatha ahead of the arrival of the IUSF protesters, who were planning to stage a demonstration in front of the United Nations Compound.

The two student leaders, who were detained for more than 90 days under the provisions of the Prevention of the Terrorism Act (PTA), were remanded by the Colombo Additional Magistrate yesterday until the Attorney General’s instructions are received.

The Defence Ministry had issued detention orders against Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thero, Wasantha Mudalige and Hashantha Jeevantha Gunathilake, an activist of the ‘Aragalaya’ protest movement on August 22, granting permission to detain them for 90 days and be questioned by the police.