Indiscipline in universities:

SB promises tough action

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The agitations and protests in the universities, orchestrated by extremist JVP elements, aim at nothing, but misleading and harassing the university students, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayaka said.

“The majority of students are well aware of the gimmicks and ulterior motives of these JVP trouble makers.

They are fighting a loosing battle to retain their leadership in the student organisations. Except in the Ruhuna and Peradeniya Universities, they have lost their popularity and edge.

They cannot organise demonstrations or rallies against the university administration or the Government in the name of students”, he said.

According to Minister Dissanayake, the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) is working on a political agenda, being the JVP’s cat’s paw, to sabotage university administration and cause major unrest in the university system, but is far from achieving this goal.

The Minister said strict disciplinary action would be taken against all who have committed various acts of indiscipline such as ragging and causing damage to State resources.

Renovations to lecture halls and laboratories will be completed soon to ensure a more salubrious atmosphere in universities. The Government aims to improve university education, to bring it on par with world class universities.

“That is why we have invited the best universities worldwide to open their universities or campus branches in Sri Lanka”, he said.

Referring to the foreign universities which have established branches in Sri Lanka, the Minister said less than 29 foreign universities conduct their education programs in the country, to offer degrees and diplomas to local students. The standards of some of these programs are excellent while some have failed to reach world standards.

"The Government will not interfere with this situation. However, moves are afoot to set up a higher education council which is already approved by the Cabinet to monitor and control the functions of foreign universities”, he said.