Undergrads run amok, take Rajarata VC hostage

November 28, 2011, 9:54 pm , The Island

by Dasun Edirisinghe

Vice Chancellor Prof. K. A. Nandasena, Registrar A. G. Karunaratne and Medical Faculty Dean Prof. Malani Udupihilla of the Rajarata University were held hostage for nearly two hours yesterday by medical undergraduates who demanded a Professorial Unit in the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for the clinical training of the final year medical students.

President of the Rajarata Medical Faculty Students’ Union Chaminda Pushpakumara told The Island that they had been compelled to take tough action as the VC and Dean had persistently refused a discussion.

"Final year students have been waiting for six months to complete their clinical training," he said adding that their counterparts elsewhere had already passed out and were working as demonstrators.

Pushpakumara said the university administration had promised to set up a professorial unit by Nov. 15, but that promise had not been honoured.

Vice Chancellor Prof. K. A. Nandasena was not available for comments.