Mass protests by undergrads demanding increases in Mahapola and bursary payments

December 3, 2013, 9:50 pm , The Island

By Dasun Edirisinghe

Undergraduates of universities countrywide are demanding the doubling of the Mahapola and bursary payments as they had not been increased during the last eight years.

Convener of the Inter University Students’ Federation Sanjeewa Bandara told The Island yesterday that at present, Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 2,000 were paid monthly as Mahapola and bursary payments respectively.

He said that the ‘Mahinda Chintanaya’ policy document promised to increase the payment by Rs. 500 eight years ago, but that had yet to be implemented.

Bandara said however a Rs. 500 increment was not enough now as the cost of living index had skyrocketed during the last few years and they needed to double the payments.

"We were looking forward to it in the budget 2014, but President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not allocate any funds to increase the Mahapola or bursary," he said.

The student activist said that they held protests at each university during last week and the final protest at university would be held opposite the Kelaniya University today (04).

Bandara said that they would march from each university to the closest town next Wednesday as the second stage of their protest.

"We will hold the protest march on the same day countrywide," he said.

Bandara said that they would finally hold a national level demonstration demanding that the authorities increase Mahapola and bursary payments without any further delay.

The Island learns that IUSF Convener Sanjeewa Bandara was earlier granted bail by the Gangodawila Magistrate on the condition that he would not organise unlawful gatherings. A case had been filed against him by the Mirihana police against his organising a protest march from Sri Jayewardenepura University to Town Hall as it caused inconvenience to the general public.

Asked whether he was violating bail conditions by organizing the protest marches demanding increases in Mahapola and Bursary payments, Bandara said that he was ordered not to organize gathering which caused harm to public peace, but the new protest would be a peaceful one organized to win their rights.