1996. The Jathika Balaya organization (under complaint number HRC/3824/15) and HNDA
students (under HRC/3827/15) also filed complaints with regard to the incident.
An investigation was conducted and relevant parties were summoned before the Commission on
03/11/2015 and 05/11/2015. Written submissions were obtained from the respondents.
This report has been compiled by the Human Rights Commission, taking into consideration
written submissions made by parties, media reports, Medico Legal Reports, video clips
submitted by parties, rules and regulations pertaining to disperses of unlawful assemblies and
international human rights standards outlined in conventions.
2. Facts stated by the Complainants:
2.1 Written Statement from the 1st Complainant Jathika Balaya Organization
Brutal attack, injuring and arrest was inflicted on the students in the conflicting situation, which
arose after the students of the Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) Institute were
denied an opportunity to present their grievances to the University Grants Commission. (UGC).
As a redress, the complainant sought disciplinary action against the Police officers responsible
for the alleged arbitrary brutal assault and measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents
(Annex 1).
2.2 Verbal Statement by the 1st Complainant:
As per the inquiry conducted on 2015/11/05 by summoning all the parties:
The petitioner of the 1stclaim, Sarath Mananamendra on behalf of the Jathika Balaya
Organization, stated that this student movement had been brutally attacked by the Police.
Politicians from both the government and the opposition had given media statements on the issue
and there had been extensive coverage of the incident by the Press and through social media; the
extracts from newspaper articles have been submitted as evidence. Further, he stated that the use
of tear gas and water cannons was not the issue. However, authorities must be notified to take
action against the arbitrary assault committed by the police officers.
2.3 Written statements from the 2nd Petitioner (Students)
Complainants state there had been a number of unresolved administrative matters persisting for a
long time at the Higher National Diploma Institute including: demands for the HNDA course to
give the equivalent of a degree status, the attempts to require a fee for the courses offered by the
Higher National Diploma Institute, demands of Rs.5000 to be paid to them each month for the
Mahapola scholarship which university students receive, instead of Rs. 1250 that they currently
receive - as a result of which students had been in distress.
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