Police have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a group of undergraduates protesting near the Colombo University earlier today evening (March 05).

The protest took place opposite the University of Colombo and was attended by undergraduates of several universities, reports say.

Earlier in the day, the Cinnamon Gardens Police made a formal request to the Colombo Chief Magistrate – Prasanna Alwis, seeking an order to halt a protest march organized by several university student bodies. However, the Magistrate had rejected the request.