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| Sunday, 10 March 2002 |
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University urges students to abide by internal discipline Statement of Vice Chancellor, Deans' Committee and Head, Department of Law of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Council of the University of Colombo at a special meeting held on March 04, 2002 decided that the suspension orders issued on nine students should not be withdrawn because of statements made by the Vice Chancellor and the Deans' Committee (comprising Deans of all Faculties and the Rector of Sri Palee Campus) under duress arising from a threat of suicide by two suspended students on February 15, 2002. As the governing body of a responsible statutory institution, the Council took serious note of the extra legal attempts made by students to cancel or vary decisions that were arrived at on the report of a Disciplinary Committee. As an accountable body, the council is committed to take strong and appropriate action to maintain discipline and order in the institution and will not permit a few students to practise anarchy in the institution and damage its reputation. The Council and its authorities will not be responsible for liable for any personal consequences arising from any extra legal action taken by a student or students. The Council also took note of the strong condemnation expressed by members of all seven faculties (chaired by Deans). These institutes (chaired by directors), 1. Campus (chaired by Rector) and the Senate of the University of Colombo (chaired by the Vice Chancellor) in regard to criminal intimidation by the suspended students when they threatened a fast unto death or suicide by one of the group if the suspension order was not withdrawn. The Council endorsed the views of these academic bodies that the suspension order must stand, and these law students be informed that they cannot use extra legal means to overturn council decision based on the report of a duly appointed Disciplinary Committee. The Council also wished to remind these students that some of them could have been expelled for the incidents that took place on 29 November, 2001 but that the committee had on compassionate grounds recommended the lesser punishment of suspension which had been adopted. The Council noted the communication sent by the Chancellor of the University, members of civil society, academics of a Faculty Board of a university and in particular the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka which had communicated through its President directly with the Council. The Bar Association's statement indicated to the council that law students in the University of Colombo should be warned that serious offences such as criminal conduct could prejudice their chances of enrolment as Attorneys-at-Law. The suspended students engaged in disruptive efforts should note this. Any further acts of criminal intimidation and violence will not be permitted and such conduct will attract more serious disciplinary action and also be reported to the Police under the Prohibition of Ragging and other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act, 1998. We urge the suspended students to abide by the internal disciplinary procedures including appeals for reduction of the period of suspension and mandatory counselling with a view to reintegrating in the university community. It is only such disciplined behaviour that can prevent prejudice to their careers as future lawyers and further damage to the reputation of the Faculty of Law and the University. All law students are advised that they are expected to abide by Council decisions on discipline in their own interest and in the interest of maintaining peace and stability and the good name of the faculty which has been seriously damaged. The Faculty of Law will be reopened for final year students on 11 March, 2002. If classes commence early it will be possible to conclude the academic sessions for 2002 and make up for the valuable time lost due to the disruption of academic activities. |
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