The Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) will hold a massive anti-government protest in Colombo today. The protest will be held against state repression calling for the release of IUSF convenor Wasantha Mudalige and member Galwewa Siridhamma Thera who are currently in custody after being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The protest is being held under the theme ‘Ranila Go’ calling for President Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down. The IUSF said the protest will also be against the economic pressures faced by the people as well. “No intervals - The struggle is the only path!” the IUSF said in its posters announcing the protest march.

The IUSF yesterday appealed to the international community to observe the protest. Issuing a statement, the IUSF said Ranil Wickremesinghe who was appointed as President after the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa is now pursuing a grave agenda of repression, in serious violation of the fundamental rights of the people to express themselves and to participate in acts of peaceful dissent, in order to maintain power. IUSF said that all peaceful protests that have been held in the recent past have been brutally suppressed, violating the fundamental democratic rights of the people.

“We have organised a protest which is scheduled to begin from the University of Kelaniya, to mark 60 days since the detention of our student leaders, Wasantha Mudalige and Galwewa Siridhamma Thera under the PTA, to demand solutions to the economic issues faced by the people, and against State repression,” IUSF said. The Student body called on the international community to observe the protest as the Government’s cowardly repression will be on display at today's event as well. “We wish to invite representatives of the international community in Sri Lanka, who value human rights and democracy, to observe and monitor the protest at 2 pm, at the Kelaniya University, in the event the Government resorts to anti-democratic actions and violates the fundamental rights of the people.” the IUSF said.