R’rata Univresity hostage-takers win the day, free VC and dons

June 27, 2014, 10:41 pm , the island


The VC coming out of the Administration Building

By Percy Kuruneru, Anuradhapura Corr

Rajarata University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Ranjith Wijewardena and a group of academics held incommunicado for more than 24 hours by a group of undergraduates were released yesterday.

The undergraduates who defied a directive of the university administration that the campus premises were out of bounds for them following an incident which had happened the previous day remained inside the university and resorted to hostage taking on Thursday.

Over 500 members of the police anti-riot squad were summoned to the university, but they were not used to end the hostage drama.

Unrest prevailed in the university following protests mounted by students over an alleged delay on the part of the administration to redress nine grievances and preventing the seniors from participating in a ceremony to welcome new batch of students at the Management Faculty. The senior students surrounded the administrative building while the Vice Chancellor was holding a meeting with senior academics there on Thursday and did not let them come out.

Vice Chancellor and academics held four rounds of talks with protesting students but in vain.

Thereafter Chairman of Rajarata University Teachers’ Association Ven. Olangamuwe Gnanasara Thera intervened and obtained a letter from the students addressed to the Vice Chancellor. The Vice Chancellor in return promised in writing to the students that he would take up the students’ grievances at the next Senate Meeting. Thereafter the protestors let the Vice Chancellor and academics leave the building.

The students’ letter contained several demands including the revoking of suspension of classes of 27 student activists unconditionally, and permitting those students to enter the university premises.

Subsequently, the Vice Chancellor told the media that the university had been closed until further notice and the date of reopening would be informed after a meeting with all the members of the academic staff of the university.

SB warns of tough action against university troublemakers

June 18, 2014, 9:16 pm, the island

By Dasun Edirisinghe

Undergraduates including bhikkus violating university rules and regulations causing unrest would be severely dealt with according to the law, Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake said yesterday.

Addressing a media conference at the University Grants Commission (UGC), the minister said that a section of undergraduates sponsored by some bankrupt political parties like the JVP had created scenes at Sri Jayewardenerpura, Ruhuna, Colombo universities and the Wickcramarachchi Ayurvedic Institute in Gampaha.

"We will punish them according to the law," Dissanayake said, adding that tabs were kept on all trouble makers including the bikkhu undergraduates of Sri Jayewardenepura university currently occupying a part of Sumangala Building of the campus though alternative accommodation had been offered.

The minister said that since1984, the universities in the South and North had been controlled by the JVP and the LTTE respectively, but under the present government all universities were controlled by Senates.

UGC Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama said that only a small group of undergraduates financed by outside groups created violence in universities.

She said that they disrupted the education of other students, too.

Vice Chancellor of Sri Jayewardenepura University Dr. N. L. A. Karunaratne said that senior bhikku undergraduates had instigated freshers to cause trouble and that was why the new entrants had been given a separate hostel.

"That decision was taken by senior bhikku lecturers in our university not by me," he said, noting that only a handful of undergraduates were opposed to that decision and all first year bhikku undergraduates had been taken to the Sumangala building forcibly.

Dr. Karunaratne said that senior bhikku undergraduates had threatened him and his family at his office on Tuesday.

FUTA blames police for A’gama ethnic violence

June 17, 2014, 10:05 pm

By Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

University teachers yesterday accused the police of swiftly seeking judicial orders to prevent university students from holding protest marches, but they had failed to anticipate the consequences of an extremist quasi-religious organisation holding a large public rally in the Alutgama area already simmering with religious tension last Sunday.

Secretary of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Rohan Fernando said that they wondered how violence had continued unabated for several hours with much damage to property, businesses and places of worship despite the heavy presence of the police and STF.

Vehemently condemning the violent incidents and complete breakdown of law and order that transpired in Aluthgama and Beruwala areas, Dr. Fernando said that FUTA saw the Alutgama incident as an individual expression of a larger systemic problem.

He said the FUTA believed, as with the recent attack on Ruhuna university students and lecturers and a number of incidents of intimidation at Jaffna university and the general stifling of any form of dissent by trade unions, students or other civil society groups, the Alutgama incident pointed to a dangerous culture of impunity that was nurtured and fostered by those within or close to the current regime.

"In any multicultural society, ethnic and religious tensions do occur but it is the role of the state to act swiftly and decisively to stem such tensions and protect its citizens," Dr. Fernando said, adding that Sri Lanka had just emerged from 30 years of brutal and lacerating civil conflict and could ill-afford another ethno-religious conflagration.

UGC informs Universities to increase required credits for allied health science degree

June 9, 2014, 9:58 pm , the island


By Nilantha Madurawala

File photo of AHS protest

The University Grants Commission has officially informed the universities that offer Allied Health Sciences degree programme to increase the number of credits for each programme up to 120, UGC sources said.

Accordingly a circular had been sent to the universities of Peradeniya, Sri Jayewardenepura, Ruhuna, Colombo, Jaffna and the Eastern University by the UGC with instructions to increase the number of credits from 90 to 120.

The decision to increase the number of credits for the AHS degree programme was taken during a meeting chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and attended by the top level representatives of the Ministries of Health and Higher Education last week. Approval of the Attorney General too had been granted for the revision, sources said.

Though that decision had been taken it was not conveyed to the students engaged in an agitation in the main cities countrywide therefore the protest campaign was in progress yesterday, too.

When contacted for comment Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences of the University of Peradeniya Dr. Mahinda Wickremaratne said that he expected the students to abandon their protest campaign and attend lectures once the circular to increase the number of credits had been publicised.

FUTA strike action a tremendous success, claims general secretary

June 7, 2014, 6:50 pm

By Maheen Senanayake. the island

FUTA went on a symbolic strike on June 3 prior to resuming trade union action in view of several demands made to the government including a 6% GDP allocation for education.

"More than 700 academics joined the hour-long picket at the Thunmulla on Tuesday,’’ said Prof. Rohan Fernando, General Secretary of FUTA. "This is a clear indication of the support we have from all our universities and our membership."

A meeting followed the picketing.

FUTA has been in discussions with the government with respect to several issues including the rectification of salary anomalies and the abolishing of a research allowance which some, including past president, Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri says "even the chairperson of the University Grants Commission found difficult to draw".

According to Dewasiri the allowance which was an interim measure pending rectification of salary anomalies is now being audited as a research grant and not as an allowance. Many have had difficulty drawing the allowance as a result.

FUTA is also demanding higher budgetary allocation for education. It also wants the government to stop interfering with university administration.

Meanwhile, students of the Allied Health Sciences (AHS) Faculty, Peradeniya, have boycotted their examinations over the reduction of the program from four years, including clinical practice, to three.

Asked why he deems the picketing a success, they said " because we were able to muster the support of all our membership."

"It gives us strength and will determine how successful we will be in securing our demands through future trade union action," Fernando said.

Attempts to contact the Minister of Higher Education for comment were not successful.

FUTA threatens strike unless govt. stops harassing lecturers

June 6, 2014, 9:18 pm


‘Names of dons who spoke against Deyata Kirula at Senate meeting were leaked to thugs’

By Dasun Edirisinghe, The Island

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) yesterday asked the government to stop harassing its members following a recent goon attack on the Ruhuna University students or face a countrywide strike.

Addressing a media conference at the Faculty Club of the Colombo University, FUTA President Chandragupta Thenuwara said that the government sponsored thugs had attacked the vehicle of a lecturer of the Ruhuna University during the protest on Monday, demanding that Deyata Kirula exhibition be held within the university premises.

He said that another lecturer of the Jaffna University had also been questioned by the CID recently.

"All those acts are a threat to the university autonomy and unnecessary interference in university matters," Thenuwara said.

Dr. Upul Abeyratne of the Ruhuna University Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty said he was leaving the university when a group of people protesting opposite the university on Monday attacked his car.

A thug who was under the influence of liquor had shouted that he (Dr. Abeyratne) had, at a Senate meeting, opposed the holding of the Deyata Kirula exhibition and the mob had attacked the vehicle, Dr. Abeyratne said. "They also tried to harm me, but I managed to escape."

That incident had proved that the details of lecturers against Deyata Kirula exhibition had been leaked to government sponsored thugs, Dr. Abeyratne said.

He said he had reported Monday’s incident and subsequent threats to the Vice Chancellor and the University Security Division besides lodging a complaint with the police.

Former FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri, Dr. Jinasena Hewage of the Ruhuna Science Faculty, lecturers Dr. P. Edirisinghe, Upali Pannilage and Chandika Gunasinghe from the Ruhuna University also attended the media conference.

Ranil backs JVP, demands probe

* Goon attack on Ruhuna students

June 5, 2014, 12:00 pm , The Island


By Saman Indrajith

Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday told Parliament that some politicians including parliamentarians had led a mob which attacked undergraduates of the Ruhuna University. He demanded an investigation into the incident.

 "We have seen JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva display some pictures of that incident. Some government politicians were captured in those photographs leading a mob that attacked the students and teachers of the Ruhuna University. I demand to know what action the government will take against those politicians."

Text of the Opposition Leader’s special statement: "A mob blocked the entrance and the exit of the University of Ruhuna and disturbed its functions with the connivance of some politicians of the area. They entered the University on 02.06.2014, and had attacked its students on the pretext of requesting that the Deyata Kirula Exhibition be held in the university premises. Further they did not even allow the evacuation of students injured in the attack. The gang also abused the lecturers entering and leaving the university premises in filth and threatened them. The mob caused damage to their vehicles. As usual, the police took no action. The victims were sent out in buses and four faculties in the Wellamadama premises remain closed indefinitely.

I expect a statement from the Prime Minister on the terror spread throughout the area around Wellamadama Complex of the University of Ruhuna. I also expect him to include the following in that statement: (1) legal action taken against the gang that entered the premises of the University of Ruhuna and attacked the students (2) legal action taken against those who insulted the university lecturers and damaged their vehicles (3) security measures to be taken to ensure early re-opening of the university and the continuation of academic work without fear and uncertainty among students and lecturers (4) steps to be taken to ensure the safety of the students residing in the university and its vicinity and (5) steps to be taken to maintain law and order to ensure that such incidents will not recur.

Leader of the House Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the government would make a statement on the issue on Friday (06).

AHS issue: Nurses, PSM fault govt. for overlooking them

June 5, 2014, 9:48 pm , The Island


By Dilanthi Jayamanne

Nurses and Professions Supplementary to Medicine (PSM) yesterday warned that they would continue with their agitations for a fair solution to the Allied Health Sciences Degree issue till the Ministry of Higher Education and the University Grants Commission officially informed them of the decision taken at a discussion on Tuesday (03).

Addressing the media, President of the Government Nursing Officers’ Association (GNOA) Saman Ratnapriya said that the nursing and PSM unions had discussed the new development with the AHS students and reached an agreement with them to continue with the trade union action till they were apprised of the outcome of the controversial discussion.

  "While welcoming the positive decision taken at the meeting at Temple Trees, there are a few issues that need to be straightened out such as to whether the subjects and their content had been reduced," he said.

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake told Parliament recently that at a meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa had with the Ministries of Health, Higher Education, University Grants Commission, Vice Chancellors of Ruhunu and Peradeniya Universities and the Dean of the Peradeniya Allied Health Science Faculty and the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) early this week it had been agreed to offer degrees to AHS students on the basis of obtaining 120 credits.

 Ratnapriya said, however, that the students and unions would not agree to any decision in which subjects such as ‘research,’ would be removed or tampered with. He said the eight credits which the student receives in that subject stood them in good stead when they followed their post graduate studies.

 Ratnapriya said the professional degree which had been initiated in 2005 had comprised a four-year study course. Students who passed out in 2009 had followed the four-year degree. The Health Ministry had absorbed them into government service after a lapse of three years after condition had been laid down that only 25 percent of the graduate nursing and PSM students would be recruited. He accused the Health Ministry of being manipulated by doctors.   

The General Secretary of the Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM), Saman Jayasekara said that the decision to prune the duration of   the AHS degree had been taken when the issue regarding clinical training arose. Jayasekara said it had resulted in a case being filed in the Supreme Court by the Peradeniya University against the UGC and the Higher Education Ministry. The former Chief Justice however gave the ruling that the situation could not be resolved without discussions with the GMOA which was one of the main stakeholders. Jayasekara said that the PSM and nursing unions had been overlooked on both occasions when calling for discussions on the issue. It was reprehensible that only the GMOA had been called to discuss a matter that concerned the future of nursing and PSM

AHS program being redesigned for 4-year duration – Peradeniya VC

May 31, 2014, 8:22 pm

By Maheen Senanayake, The Island

"Steps are currently underway to reintroduce the four year Allied Health Sciences (AHS) program," said Professor Athula Senaratne, Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University said yesterday.

Asked whether the AHS faculty students have boycotted the examinations currently underway he said "yes they have".

"The University of Peradeniya has taken a decision and is currently following due process to re-introduce the four- year AHS degree programs. We have to first obtain board of study approval and then obtain approval from the faculty development and planning committee and then from the Senate", he said.

This process can take another two - three months first and then perhaps even a year. Then we have to go through the Senate twice and the standing committee at the University Grants Commission (UGC) twice before the program can finally be introduced.

Asked whether all the students currently in the faculty will benefit from this, he said "all except the current final year students." For them we could always find an interim solution but whatever the case may be everything depends on the students attending lectures.

AHS faculty students have been demanding the re-instatement of the four-year degrees by the Faculty of AHS, Peradeniya following objection by the GMOA to clinical practice. Though the GMOA has not openly objected to this, they have covertly hindered the completion of the fourth year clinical component prompting the Peradeniya University to petition the Supreme Court, Higher Education Ministry secretary Sunil Jayantha Navratne said.

However, subsequently the UGC shortened the program to three years and students took to the streets.

Attempts to contact Najith Indika, convenor, Inter University Student Federation for comment on these developments were not successful.