‘Unruly elements in universities will be punished’
by L.S. Ananda Wedaarachchi
The extremist elements who are against the reforms, are creating
trouble in the universities said Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr.
Sunil Jayantha Navaratna.
He said that the government would not allow extremists to have their
way. A handful of trouble makers will be removed if the need arises from
the universities to safeguard the fate of over 80,000 undergraduates in
18 universities, he said.
Physical attacks, arrests and harassments of academics including the
vice chancellers took place in Ruhuna, Kelaniya, Rajarata and Peradeniya
universities. The JVP led Inter University Students Federation - IUSF
was alleged to have been active in such incidents.
Dr. Navaratna said the aim of the unruly student factions is to
prevent Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayaka from introducing
reforms to the university system. They also want to tarnish the image of
the minister, he said.
A large number of students from Peradeniya and Rajarata universities
forced their way into the Higher Education Ministry and damaged the
public property including the minister’s vehicle last week and as a
result 21 undergraduates have been remanded.
Last Wednesday Ruhuna University Vice Chancellor Professor Susirith
Mendis and three academics were attacked when they intervened to settle
a dispute between two student groups.
Ruhunu University Science Faculty dean W.G.D. Dharmaratna said that
it is essential to maintain strict decipline in the universities. The
clash between two student groups in the Ruhunu University last years
created a grave situation, although undergraduates who were found guilty
at the disciplinary inquiries were punished, he said.
A suspect undergraduate in the Ruhunu University vice chancellor’s
assault case was arrested by the Elpitiya police last Friday.
He was remanded after being produced before the magistrate. The
police are conducting investigations to arrest four more undergraduate
suspects.
In the meantime, the science faculty in Peradeniya University remains
closed since last Wednesday due to the students unrest.
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