The police have arrested a total of 31 individuals for staging a protest at the Polduwa Roundabout today (July 08), in violation of prevailing health regulations. The Inter University Students’ Federation, the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union and the Frontline Socialist Party had organized the demonstration against the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill. General Secretary of the teachers’ union Joseph Stalin, Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thero, another Buddhist monk and two women are also among the arrestees, the police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana stated further. Meanwhile, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) carried out a demonstration, alleging that the government is suppressing the people’s right to protest. Joined by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB lawmakers, the protest was staged near the main entrance of the Parliament this morning.

Source: The Nation July 08, 2021 07:18 UTC