Minister Sagala Ratnayake says that he has instructed Sri Lanka’s police chief to investigate the procedures followed by police when attempting to arrest the Convener of the Medical Faculty Students’ Action Committee, Rayan Jayalath. 

The university student activist is a suspect in the case filed with the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court over the forced entry into the Ministry of Health and damaging public property on June 21 and is wanted in connection with another case pending in the Fort Magistrate’s Court.   

Police officers dressed in civilian clothing, who reportedly arrived in a white colored van, had attempted to arrest Jayalath on Thursday (20) as he was preparing to leave following a press conference held at the GMOA headquarters.

However, they were met with stiff resistance from those who were gathered including several other university students and activists while the officers were prevented from arresting the student activist. 

Issuing a statement today (22), the Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development stated that he already instructed IGP Pujith Jayasundara to investigate the incident during the arrest and the procedure followed by the police officers and to immediately submit a report to him. 

Ratnayake also says that he intends to make a special statement regarding the incident when Parliament convenes this week.