Police fired tear gas and water cannons at IUSF protestors

Protesters outside the United Nations office in Colombo Sri Lanka

Anti-government demonstrators and university students protest to demand the release of their leaders outside the United Nations (UN) office in Colombo on November 18, 2022. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP via Getty Images)

Police have fired tear gas and water cannons on Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) protestors at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, close to the UN Headquarters, police said.

The IUSF launched a protest march this afternoon (November 18), demanding the immediate release of IUSF convener Wasantha Mudalige and the convener of the Inter-University Bhikkhu Federation (IUBF) Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thero.

One student has been arrested by the police.