Inter University Students Union (IUSF) to held a protest march today 11 am (March 6) from Kelaniya University to Kiribathgoda Town over Hostel issues faced by students.Parents of the students will also support for this rally.
www.lankauniversity-news.com
A group of female students of the Kelaniya university have occupied a
canteen area of the university due to an issue pertaining to their hostels. The
students note that they were forced to resort to this measure as authorities
who identified their issue are yet to find a solution to it.
Around 300 students are currently housed in these premises.
The Students’ Union of the university charges that around 800 students
were denied hostel privileges this year.
Chairman of Kelaniya University Students Union, Kingsley Gunaratne said:
” In 2010 they wanted to suppress the students so they implemented a change in
hostels. This resulted in about 800 students losing hostel privileges…”
Vice Chancellor of Kelaniya University, Sarath Amunugama expressed the
following views:”None of the national universities are capable of completely
solving their hostel problems. We provide hostel facilities for first year
students and students in their final year. If you look at the figures you see
an issue pertaining to female first year students. We have provided facilities
for 92% of the students who applied. We have also provided facilities to 95% of
the final year students that applied ..”
However, responding to a query raised in Parliament on Tuesday Minister
of Higher Education , S.B. Dissanayake notes that universities have only spent
less than 50% of the funds allocated to their ministry.
He made following comment: “.. There is no issue about funding. What we
are trying to do is to keep our expenses below 70% of the allocated funds. in
2010 a majority of the universities spent less than 50% of their allocated
funds.
Source - Newsfirst