The students of the Allied Health Science Degree programme were arrested for staging protests disregarding police and court orders.
Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told media that three students were arrested on warrants and two others were arrested for breaching court orders issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate while 13 other students were arrested for interrupting police.
Responding to the allegations that arrests were made without warrants, the spokesman said the students were engaged in unlawful activities when the arrests were made and the police have provisions to do so. The students, their parents and the members of the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) staged a demonstration opposite the University Grants Commission on Friday to protest the government's proposal to reduce the course duration of the Allied Health Science Degree programme from four years to three years.
They staged a similar protest in front of Sri Lankan President's official house, Temple Trees, on May 7th despite a court order forbidding the protest.
The police arrested four students during the protest staged opposite the University Grant Commission in Ward Place yesterday.
Meanwhile, the IUSF alleged that the Police have assaulted the arrested students "heavily" and four students needed to be hospitalized.
The convener of IUSF Najith Indika told media today that they are planning to take legal action against the Slave Island Police officials for assaulting the students.
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