Tamil National Alliance MP Suresh Premachandran has slammed the Sri Lankan government for the arrests of Tamil students at Sabaragamuwa University, following an attack at the Southern university earlier this month.

Premachandran stated that "everyone is aware of the incident at the Sabaragamuwa University,” adding, “The police spokesperson has told the media that he tied his hands to his back himself and self-harmed.”

Commenting on the arrest of the second Tamil student, Uthayan quoted Premachandran as going on to say,

"Fellow student Yoganathan Nirojan, from Vavuniya was arrested for visiting the injured student, and he has been released on bail by Colombo Magistrate court. Is meeting a fellow student a crime? Do the police not see it as a humanitarian norm? Why was he arrested? All activities of police have political influences."

The TNA MP also condemned the Sri Lankan police statement that the injuries the Tamil student received from the attack were self inflicted, saying,

“They who must maintain law and order, arresting victims and getting them to agree on their confession statement are ridiculous and disgraceful. Such things can only happen in Sri Lanka.”

“I would also like to highlight that such actions of the government and its machinery cannot cause reconciliation in the country, and will pave the path for the people to decide that the government itself is triggering chauvinism."

See more from the Uthayan (in Tamil) here.

Police to take action against attacked Tamil student for 'false complaint'  (12 August 2014)

Second Tamil student at Sabaragamuwa University arrested by TID (09 August 2014)

Tamil student detained by anti-terror police at Sabaragamuwa University (07 August 2014)

Tamil student attacked in South as posters warn Tamils and Muslims to leave (03 August 2014)