The student unions of the University of Jaffna and of the Eastern University have demanded the release of Tamil political prisoners who have been detained for years without charge or trial under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
In a joint statement, the two unions expressed solidarity with the hunger-striking political prisoners at Anuradhapura prison and put forward several demands with a view to tackling the political prisoners issue.
Under demands requiring immediate action, the students called for the transferral of the hunger-strikers' cases from Anuradhapura court to either Vavuniya or Jaffna.
The unions also called for all political prisoners' cases to go for trial but that since many had spent years in detention, their release should also be secured.