Sri Lanka: protest violently dispersed, at least 57 arrested
Event- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Feb 23, 2023
- Event Description
The police have arrested 57 people including Wasantha Mudalige, convener of the Inter-University Student Federation.
The police said the group was arrested when they attempted to forcefully enter the premises of the Ministry of Education in Battaramulla.
There are 48 monks among those arrested.
A group of university students gathered in front of the Ministry of Education and held a protest demanding the resumption of studies at the Homagama Buddhist and Pali University and the release of the previously arrested student activists.
The inter-university Bhikku Federation also staged a protest yesterday at Pitipana intersection in Homagama demanding the authorities to reopen the university that was closed due to student unrest following a ragging incident.
The police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protestors yesterday.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Freedom of expression
- Offline
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- Right to liberty and security
- Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 6.901835989016424
Longitude: 79.92106768458221
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 23 February 2023, at least 57 protesters, including 48 Buddhist monks and student leader Wasantha Mudalige, were arrested by the police for protesting in front of the Ministry of Education in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka.