Tension at Sri J’pura University over Mahapola payments

Island

August 10, 2011, 9:47 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

A tense situation prevailed at the Sri Jayewardenepura University yesterday morning as students surrounded the administration building demanding a discussion with the Vice Chancellor.

They surrounded the Vice Chancellors office for five hours, but later dispersed as VC Dr. N. L. A. Karunaratne was not in his office.

Undergraduates were protesting against the delay of the Mahapola payments for first year students. The VC had cancelled the scheduled event to grant the payments yesterday too, according to the Students’ Council.

"We are demanding the Mahapola payments for eight months," President of the Students Council Kamburupitiye Knanissara thera told The Island.

He said that Vice Chancellor suppressed the students for years and they wanted him to resign.

"There is lack of welfare facilities too in the university and the university administration always refuses to discuss the problems with us," Knanissara thera said.

He said that they will decide on whether to go for a massive protest over the Vice Chancellor refusing to meet them yesterday.

VC Dr. N. L. A. Karunaratne was not available for immediate comment.