In Sri Lanka, police had to use tear gas and water cannons in capital Colombo to disperse students protesting against a recent court decision recognizing a private medical university, SAITM. <br/><br/>The incident happened when protests organized by the Inter- University Students Federation managed to break down the barricades and tried to forcibly enter the Presidential Secretariat. <br/><br/>The student body supported by political groups is on a warpath against the government for not de-legitimising a private medical college saying it is not up to standards. <br/><br/>Over the past few weeks, Government medical officers association has organized several bandhs and demonstrations on the issue. President Maithripala Sirisena has constituted a committee to look into all aspects of the issue.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) today filed an appeal before the Supreme Court to annul its verdict to register SAITM medical degree holders. <br/><br/>The Court of Appeal ruled on 31 January that the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) is legally eligible to issue medical degrees to the students. It had also directed the SLMC to grant provisional registration to medical students passing out from SAITM.