News
Student teachers demand payout for belongings pillaged in trashed hostels
Students of Colleges of Education who have returned to their studies after a long absence say they are appalled that personal lockers have been broken, and books, belongings and mattresses torn and destroyed.
They have returned after more than a year’s leave due to the coronavirus disease pandemic. Colleges of Education were used as treatment and or quarantine centres during the first and second outbreaks of the pandemic.
Students returned to this mess at the Peradeniya National College of Education
“As we were told to leave within a day’s notice and taken in military buses, most of our belongings were kept in a locked room. We were told to return for studies this year, but our mattresses were torn, the graffiti in walls were disgusting and our belongings kept in locked rooms pulled out. Girls’ lockers were opened, and books and belongings, including clothes taken out,” said a student at the Peradeniya National College of Education.
Most students who spoke to the Sunday Times requested to remain anonymous for fear of warnings and a reduction of marks by administrators.
“There was clear evidence that the hostel rooms were not disinfected properly. Mattresses used by COVID-19 patients were not replaced, even our pillows that were kept locked have been used. The locks in suitcases were broken and belongings taken out. There were discarded food parcels as well. We students had to have ‘shramadanas’ to clean the hostel rooms,” said another student.
Janak Prasanna, convener of the Colleges of Education Union, said students from Ruhuna, Nilwala and Hapitigama National Colleges of Education complained about the growing number of coronavirus disease infections within their respective colleges.
“COVID-19 continued [to spread] rapidly within Colleges of Education. Administrations blamed students, but we believe that hostels were not disinfected properly. Rapid antigen tests for students revealed many are infected. While some administrations told students to go home, some had students quarantined within the premises. Students in quarantine complained over the poor state of food provided to them,” he said.
Another complained about administrators turning a blind eye when students were getting infected with the coronavirus disease. 
“Boys were getting high fever and even at midnight fellow students had to take them to hospital in three-wheelers. There was chaos,” he said.
“We want our hostels disinfected and students whose belongings were destroyed to be compensated. The majority of students are not financially able to replace their belongings. Both Health and Education Ministries should look into this,” said another female student.
The director of the National Institute of Education, Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne said the NIE is only involved in the academic part of Colleges of Education including examinations and issuing results, while the administration is handled by a commissioner at the Education Ministry.
Chief commissioner (teacher education) E.M.S. Ekanayake said he retired in October last year.
“The posts of director-colleges of education and chief commissioner (teacher education) have been vacant for over three months,” he said.
All Colleges of Education were used as coronavirus treatment/quarantine centres by the Health Ministry and the army, he said.
The acting commissioner said she cannot comment due to the nature of her post. 
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!