Peradeniya University Senate approves 4 years duration for AHS degree

Peradeniya Uni Senate approves four year duration for AHS degrees

Senate of the Peradeniya University had approved the four year duration of the Allied Health Sciences degree course at its latest meeting held on Wednesday (21), Peradeniya AHS Faculty Dean Dr. D. B. M. Wickremeratne said.

He said that the university’s supreme body Senate had recognised it and approved the making of syllabi accordingly for four years.

AHS Faculty was started in 2007 in the Peradeniya University and since then six other universities in the country have commenced AHS courses, but they do not have separate AHS faculties. At present Universities of Kelaniya, Sri Jayewardenepura, Ruhuna, Jaffna, Eastern, and South Eastern are the other seats of higher learning where AHS degree courses are taught.

Dr. Wickremeratne said that the Senate’s decision would be forwarded to the University Grant Commission’s approval.

At present, AHS students are conducting Sathyagrahas at five locations demanding the restoration of four year degree course. The Sathyagrahas at the Galaha junction, opposite Galle Bus Stand, opposite Fort Railway Station, opposite Sri Jayewardenepura University have passed 151, 143, 57 and 15 days respectively. A token stathyagraha is conducted opposite the UGC every day.

Convener of the Inter University Students’ Federation Najith Indika said that the decision of the Senate of the Peradeniya University was a victory for their struggle.

"We are pushing the Senates of other Universities, too, to approve four year duration for AHS degrees," Indika said.

Source - Island
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FUTA token strike on June 3rd

Sri Lanka University lecturers have decided to launch a token strike on June 3^rd Lankadeepa reports. The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) has threatened to resume its trade union action since the government has failed to implement the proposals agreed to in 2012.

The FUTA has written to Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. S. J. Navaratne calling on the authorities to rectify the salary anomalies of academics as promised in the 2012 agreement.

The Association is to stage a token strike on June 3 to demand the implementation of the proposals agreed between the FUTA and the government.

If the demands are not met the FUTA said it is considering returning to a continuous trade union action.

General Secretary of FUTA, Prof. Rohan Fernando said the government has still not appointed the special commission to investigate matters regarding state universities.

The proposed commission was agreed to at the discussions FUTA held with Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake and Minister Basil Rajapaksa before the trade union action was called off by the university lecturers in October 2012.

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Remanded Sri Lankan University students released on Bail by Court

13 Remanded University students released on Bail by Court today. Also magistrate warned police about their behavior .13 University students arrested by the police have been remanded till Monday after they were produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrates Court.
 

The students of the Allied Health Science Degree programme were arrested for staging protests disregarding police and court orders.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told media that three students were arrested on warrants and two others were arrested for breaching court orders issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate while 13 other students were arrested for interrupting police.

Responding to the allegations that arrests were made without warrants, the spokesman said the students were engaged in unlawful activities when the arrests were made and the police have provisions to do so. The students, their parents and the members of the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) staged a demonstration opposite the University Grants Commission on Friday to protest the government's proposal to reduce the course duration of the Allied Health Science Degree programme from four years to three years.

They staged a similar protest in front of Sri Lankan President's official house, Temple Trees, on May 7th despite a court order forbidding the protest.

The police arrested four students during the protest staged opposite the University Grant Commission in Ward Place yesterday.

Meanwhile, the IUSF alleged that the Police have assaulted the arrested students "heavily" and four students needed to be hospitalized.

The convener of IUSF Najith Indika told media today that they are planning to take legal action against the Slave Island Police officials for assaulting the students.

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