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| Sunday, 5 September 2004 |
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Varsity strike enters fifth day Exams postponed by Chamitha Kuruppu The strike launched by the Inter-University Trade Union Joint Committee (IUTUJC), which continues for the fifth day today, has once again brought the education of thousands of students to a standstill, compelling universities to postpone the ongoing examinations. Measures taken by the University Grants Commission to expedite the admission process for University entrance for 2004 A/L students will also be futile due to the ongoing strike. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on Friday instructed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to direct all Vice Chancellors to commence lectures and examinations immediately. She has also directed UGC to continue processing university admission for 2004. However, several Vice Chancellors told the Sunday Observer that they are unable to commence lectures with the ongoing situation but stressed that measures will be taken to continue exams and academic sessions immediately once the strike is over. Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura Prof. Chandima Wijayabandara said that exams of Arts and Science faculties were postponed due to the strike. With a skeleton service like this we are unable to conduct exams. But the university will take all possible measures to commence exams immediately after the strike is over, Prof. Wijayabandara said. It was not more than a month Sri Jayawardenapura University was reopened for academic activities following its closure for over two months due to a clash between two rival student groups. Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya Prof. Thilakaratne Kapugamage said the university was closed due to the strike but was looking forward to commence lectures. Meanwhile, a discussion held between union members and Advisor to the President K.Balapatabendi, Secretary to the Ministry of Education Prof. Tara De Mel and UGC Chairman Prof. B.R.R.N. Mendis on Friday evening ended up in a failure. Over 10,000 non-academics are on strike demanding the rectification of salary anomalies of the staff from A 15 - A 4 (D) and the implementation of recommendations of the salary report drafted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA). According to Prof. Tara De Mel, the Tissa Devendra Committee is studying recommendations made by the Sri Lanka Institute for Development Administration (SLIDA) at present and necessary revisions will be made immediately to rectify salary anomalies soon after the committee completes the study. |
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