(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-23 01:59

COLOMBO -- A student demonstration blocked a main highway in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo Wednesday as police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse them.

The Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) had gathered students from 14 universities to protest against privatization plans of education and to urge government to stop action to curb student protests.

The demonstrating student gathering of around 1,000 walked from the central Colombo's Lipton Circus towards the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's office at Temple Trees in the diplomatic area of Kollupitiya.

The students clashed with the police at the Kollupitiya junction as the police used water cannon and tear gas.

The protesters demonstrators over three hours on the main highway forcing the closure of the road.

"We need a concrete pledge from the president that all students issues will be looked into", Duminda Nagamuva, the IUSF convenor said.