Court remands student leader, UNP condemns arrest

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 October 2010, 13:48 GMT]
The Colombo Magistrate Friday ordered remand for Udul Premaratne, Convener of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF), a student front organization of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), till November 12. Premaratne was produced in court after detention and interrogation at the office of the Nugegoda Division Superintendent of Police.

The Colombo Magistrate court on Friday morning directed the police to arrest the convener and three other university students without a warrant in relation to the incident where the IUSF members stormed into the Higher Education Ministry premises on 14 October.

Premaratne was arrested the same day by police in front of the United National Party (UNP) headquarters while he was leaving after meeting key UNP parliamentarians Karu Jayasuriya, Tissa Attanayake and Ruwan Wijewardene.

Meanwhile, UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya said the arrest as Mr. Premaratne was leaving the UNP headquarters Sri Kotha premises was another blatant abuse of authority and callous disregard for the rule of law.

The arrest was a ploy adopted by the UPFA government to intimidate and strike fear in those who dare to oppose them, UNP Deputy Leader added.