The police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse a protest organized by the Inter University Students' Federation over the arrest of several students of Kelaniya University over an alleged ragging incident.

The students also protested against alleged sexual harassment of female students at the university.

However Police had obtained a Court order from the Fort Magistrate's Court preventing the students from marching towards the Presidential Secretariat. The protesters attempted to move forward in defiance of the court order, and the police responded by attempting to disperse the protest.

Two students were arrested and the other students continue to protest urging for their release.