Clash closes Kelaniya Campus

Rafik JALALDEEN

The Kelaniya University was closed down until further notice, following a clash between two groups of students yesterday.

According to KU Media Director Dr. Mapa Thilakaratne two groups of students backed by two political parties were clashing from morning to afternoon at the Kelaniya campus.

"Police fired tear gas to disperse the clashing students", police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said. Registrar of the Kelaniya University W.M. Karunaratne told the Daily News that all students except those from the Medical Faculty had been given time from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning to vacate the University. "It was decided at a board meeting in the presence of the Vice Chancellor to close down the university until further notice", he added.

Thilakaratne said however, nobody was injured in the incident.