Twelve police officers including 2 high-ranking officers were wounded from stones hurled by university students during the protest in front of the Sabaragamuwa University today, Police Headquarters said.
A large number of vehicles including 3 ambulances were unable to travel due to students obstructing traffic during the protest, and causing inconvenience to the public, it said in a statement.
Police fired tear gas to disperse a group of around 1500 undergraduates who were protesting and also arrested six students.
Four students of the university who were imposed suspensions had launched a hunger strike in front of the university which yesterday turned into a ‘fast unto death’.
Two of them were admitted to the Pabahinna Hospital this morning and later transferred to the Balangoda Hospital.
The two remaining students had continued their fast while several other students had gathered supporting them and were protesting today by sitting across the road in front of the Pabahinna Junction.
The students were obstructing traffic on the Badulla-Colombo road and therefore tear gas was used to disperse them, Police said.
Traffic along the Badulla-Colombo main road had returned to normal after the students were dispersed, police said.
