A media statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office has stated that the IUSF has not given prior notice with regard to their plan to handover a letter to the Prime Minister's Office. They had informed that they would be coming to handover a letter to the University Grants Commission (UGC).

But, all of a sudden the route of the procession had been diverted and after arriving at Kollupitiya they had informed of their intention to handover a letter to the Prime Minister's Office. Although five of their representatives were invited to come and hand over the letter to the Prime Minister's Office, they had got involved in a clash with the police which lead to this unfortunate situation, the Statement further stated.

“The occurrence of such an unfortunate incident is regrettable. However, if the student protesters had peacefully allowed their representatives to come to the Prime Minister’s Office such a situation could have been avoided", the Prime Minister's Office said.