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S-E
University students raise security concerns
By Lakna Paranamanna, P.A. Sriyani and T.H.I. Niroshani
A group of students from the South Eastern
University conducted a protest in front of the University
Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday requesting transfers to
universities in the south, due to security concerns outside
university premises.
They pointed out that many are under the misconception that
it was only the students in Jaffna and Eastern Universities
face security problems, but the students in the South Eastern
University are also in grave danger. “We are not complaining
about the security within the university premises. There is
absolutely nothing to complain about the internal safety.
But outside the university premises is not safe at all. Within
the past week, there have been about 14 murders in the surrounding
areas,” revealed a student.
The access routes to the university fall through Batticaloa,
Moneragala and Siyambalanduwa, which, the students point out,
are unsafe. “Most of us who are studying in the University
are about 200-300 km away from our homes. So, we have to travel
in the night most of the time. The routes that we travel in
are not safe at all,” they pointed out.
These students have notified and made UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini
Samaranayake aware of their hardships, but there had been
no proper response regarding their notifications. “The
UGC had only lent a deaf ear to our pleas. That is why we
are conducting this protest today. So, at least now they would
shed some light on our issues and transfer us to universities
where there would be better studying environments,” they
said.
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