JVP accuses Govt. of crippling University system

By Chamitha Kuruppu

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has accused the Government of being on “a mission to cripple” the local university system, in order to promote foreign universities.

The Marxist party claims that the Rajapaksa administration is “continuing to suppress and harass” university students in the country, despite it being the responsibility of the Government to look after and protect their rights.

Addressing a media conference, parliamentarian Vijitha Herath yesterday pointed out that during the past couple of weeks, the Government has suspended a number of student unions, removed studentships and closed down the University of Rajarata and the University of Sri Jayawardenapura indefinitely. Herath claimed, “The government that shows keen interest in promoting foreign universities in the country is now engaged in a malicious mission to cripple the university system. We urge the Government to protect the university students in this country. Give them the freedom to continue their studies peacefully. These are innocent students who come from poor families.”

He further pointed out that the Government needs to solve issues “the correct way.” He said, “They should sit down with the students and discuss it in order to reach an amicable solution rather than suppressing the students and closing down universities.”  

Creating more chaos in country’s education sector, a court order was issued yesterday to remove all students from the University of Sri Jayawardena Pura. Meanwhile the Medical Faculty of Rajarata University was closed yesterday indefinitely.