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Jaffna varsity closure to prevent LTTE celebrations, charge undergrads
Student unions last week protested against the unexpected closure of the Jaffna University saying it was aimed at preventing a commemoration of the LTTE’s “Heroes’ Day” which falls on November 27. The University Grants Commission ordered all campuses in the country, including the Jaffna University, to close from November 9 citing the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that was taking place in Colombo. However, while other universities were allowed to reopen after CHOGM, the Jaffna University was given an extended holiday till December 2.
Jaffna University’s Faculty of Arts Dean Prof V. P. Sivanathan said there was nothing extraordinary about the closure. He said it was usually implemented at the end of every year as a semester break and would not cause studies to be disrupted.
But students of the Jaffna University protest that their education has been interrupted. They also allege discrimination by the authorities. S. Karan, a final year Arts student, told the Sunday Times that his studies have been affected by a closure for which nobody had given them a reason.
“Our final year was to be completed by February 2014,” he said. “It will now be extended till April and this is a big hit to many students.”
The UGC order is targeted at preventing any commemoration of the LTTE’s “Maveerar Day”, alleged Sanjeewa Bandara, conveyor of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF). He condemned the closure and said it calls to question democracy, which “leaders claim to be practising” in the country.
“We believe the Tamil community has a right to hold an event in memory of their loved ones who died in the war,” Mr Bandara said. “It is not relevant to question which party these loved ones had fought for. It is their right to choose the side they believe in. All lives are important. In some part of the world, there is someone who is mourning another person’s death.”
Sanjeewa added that the Government shouldn’t disrupt a student’s education through such decisions. There is an effort to undermine free education, he added. The fares for university hostels are being increased. “The annual fee of Rs. 600 has been increased to Rs. 3000,” he explained. “Students who come to hostels from underprivileged families can’t afford this,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UGC has started checking students boarded at the Colombo University Hostel before letting them in. The students have objected to this as a violation of their rights.
“All students are entitled to hostel accommodation but only a fraction gets permission,” Mr. Bandara said. “Those who can’t afford to stay in boarding houses stay in hostels. This is natural because, with the current cost of living, they cannot afford to pay thousands of rupees staying out.”
UGC Chair Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama said this measure was introduced because there was information that people who were not university students were lodging in hostels. “Some of them even go to work while staying in the hostels,” she said. “That can’t be allowed. There is a law and it must be implemented.”