Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harsha de Silva stated that he was 'saddened by the photographs he saw on what seems a brutal attack on protesting university students by the police' yesterday.

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Updating his Facebook page a short while ago, Silva said that he could not be sure of what exactly transpired at the protest. Although police said they used 'minimum force' to disperse the protesters, "the photographs suggest that the police behaved in their usual fashion of beating up protesters".

'I am certain that the government will take action to deal with this issue and also the newly appointed Independent Police Commission will have to show us that it means business,' he stated.

Moreover, the deputy minister added that the protesting students also have a responsibility to respect the law of the country.

"I on my part will do what I can to ensure that such is not repeated. However, protesting students also will have to abide by the laws of the country," he stated.

Thirty-nine HNDA students were arrested yesterday(29) when the police dispersed the protesting students at the Ward Place. Police said that the protesters were stopped when they tried to march towards the Ministry of Higher Education. Police used water cannons and tear gas before baton charging the protesters.