Student union protest Police units

As Kelaniya University reopens tomorrow

The Inter University Students Council (IUSC) has expressed strong objection against establishing a Police unit within the Kelaniya University premises, with the university scheduled to open tomorrow.
Last week, the Kelaniya University administration announced plans for setting up a Police unit within the university premises as a move to subdue clashes between the students. “We strongly object to this. Each time the Police entered the university premises, there have always been clashes and even several deaths have occurred as a result,” pointed out the Union Convener Udul Premaratne.
He cited several examples in the past: in 1976 a student named Rohana Weerasoriya had allegedly been shot to death, again in 1984 a student from the Peradeniya medical faculty named Padmasri Abeysekara had also been shot to death.
Premaratne stressed that nothing can end the clashes between the students other than finding the root cause and providing solutions to them.
“Currently the students are having clashes with three parties; the government because of its move to privatise the universities, the university administration because of its various corrupt acts and inability to provide proper facilities for the students, and with another group of students, because of various misunderstandings. Our question is, which of these problems are authorities hoping to solve through establishing a Police unit in the university premises?” asked Premaratne.
He reiterated that this move will not provide any solution, but will only add to the problems. “This move was taken by the government to subdue the force of the students who stand up against it, so that it could work according to its own agenda,” he further added.
Meanwhile university officials have given permission for returning students to resume their residence in the hostel from today, and prepare for the resumption of their lectures. The decision had been made following several rounds of discussions with unions. It is understood that the Vice Chancellor had earlier backed the tightened security plan and insisted that it was necessary to ensure that future clashes were minimised. (LP)