KELANIYA STUDENTS ASSAULTED BY UNKNOWN GANG

Six students of the Kelaniya University were injured and admitted to Kiribathgoda and Ragama hospitals after they were assaulted allegedly by a group of thugs who had stormed the Sivali Hostel out-

We believe that the attack was staged to warn us to refrain from being involved in student union activities

side the university premises on Thursday night, Kiribathgoda Police said.

This hostel located about one kilometre away from the university, houses 50 students of the Science Faculty. In the sudden attack on Thursday night, Nuwan Madushanka and Asitha Gunasekara were injured and are now being treated at the Kiribathgoda hospital.

Several students were assaulted in this attack and we believe that the attack was staged to warn us to refrain from being involved in student union activities.

Four others had been admitted to Ragama hospital.

The injured Nuwan Madushanka said that they had returned from the university to the hostel and had gone to sleep at 09.30 p.m. on that day. They were awakened by a loud noise at about 11.45 p.m and immediately some one had struck a blow at him and when he attempted to escape by running upstairs another wearing a helmet assaulted him.

He said that a gang of about 30 had arrived in a white van and motorcycles.

He said the group had broken the gate of the hostel and brutally assaulted the inmates of it.

The two injured students warded at the hospital are being provided with police security.

Hospital sources informed that their condition was not critical

Meanwhile the Kelaniya University Student Union said that an unidentified group had asked about the whereabouts of three Science Faculty Student Union members and that when the students failed to give information the men had assaulted the students.

“Several students were assaulted in this attack and we believe that the attack was staged to warn us to refrain from being involved in student union activities. There is a lot of fear among the students and we are concerned about the protection of students,” Union Acting President Kingsley Gunaratne said.

He said that similar incidents had taken place in the past but that students were afraid to make a complaint to the police due to fear that they would be targeted and harassed. He charged that the government was responsible for the attack and urged the authorities to carry out an impartial inquiry.

Meanwhile, Inter-University Student Federation (IUSF) Convener Sanjeewa Bandara said that the attack was one in a chain of events that had taken place in the recent past including the suspension of 49 Sabaragamuwa University students who clashed with police recently and said that the IUSF would take action against the attacks.