Universities Reopen with tight security following Easter Sunday attacks

Sri Lanka reopen schools and universities with tight security.

Special security measures have been taken by Sri Lanka Army and Policemen to ensure maximum safety of students and teachers after government reopen schools and universities following April 21 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka.

Police, Tri-Forces deployed near schools and universities. School bags and body checking going and road blocks, barriers are setup near schools and universities. Face covers banned, Teachers and students have asked to be vigilant about the environment and stay away from suspicious parcels and packages. 

Several universities already reopened. Jaffna university and Sri Pali Campus to reopen May 22, Uva Wellassa and Sabaragamuwa universities to reopen May 21.

Less students’ attendance in schools after Sri Lanka government reopened schools following Easter sunday bombs blasts. Some reports suggest 5-10% students attendance on May 6th, the first day of reopening. Education officials believe figures may increase coming days as situation getting normal.

Sri Lanka education officials reopened schools despite teachers and principal unions objections, even not consider Chief Prelates of Buddhist chapters request of postponing several weeks.

Schools were set to reopen April 22nd for the second term but suddenly closed after easter Sunday bombings.

ISIS linked, local Islamists group carried out Easter Sunday bombings targeting three churches, three luxury tourist hotels and two other locations left 257 people dead and more than 500 injured.

Teachers unions, principals union and parents opposed the government decision of opening schools as still massive amount of explosives, ammunitions, swords and warlike items are still recovering during search operations daily. These findings have made students and parents panic and worrying as feeling of uncertainties still prevailed.

Government says decision was taken after consulting police and armed forces. “Security has been tightened around schools, reopening decision was made after security units reach a clear consensus on the security situation in every school” Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said.

The government initially planned to reopen schools for all grades from May 6 Monday, but due to security measures decided to reopen them in two phases.

The government has decided to open classes only for students above grade six and postponed commencing classes for grades one to six for next week May 13.

Despite the government decision, the head of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has ordered Catholic schools not to reopen on May 6 Monday due to security reasons. Catholic schools are expected to reopen for the second term on May 14.

Less Attendance

Though, security forces launched massive search and cleaning operations island-wide before reopening schools, poor turnout of students recorded at schools in and around Colombo.

According to reports, less attendance reports in most schools, especially in Colombo and Negombo.

Education Ministry said that the attendance of students in village schools (out of Colombo) had however shown remarkable figures with teachers’ attendance was satisfactory.

 Sri Lankans are getting used to normalcy but daily findings of Explosives, ammunitions, swords and warlike items during search operation have made students, parents panic and worrying.

 A worrying mother Umanga Hettiarachchi speaking to "Lanka University News" said that she is not happy about the government’s security arrangements for schools and not send her kid to school.

 “I dont feel safety about our kids. Even though government says that they provided enough security for every school, I don’t believe it and not satisfied. Only one security officer has assigned for the whole school & government asks principal & staff to take the responsibility of students safety”  she said.

Popular private tuition teacher Mahen Kumarage speaking to "Lanka University News" told that government has given enough security for their classes.

“During last few days there were considerable drop of students’ attendance but now students are coming again as confidence building, during my sessions I took several minutes and I teach them the importance of being unity with other races and other religions”

“One student, I taught, died with her mom. Heartbreaking to visit her class on Monday to see the empty chair” emotional female teacher from international school in Colombo told LuN.

“The whole world has terrorist threats. Only difference is the other countries take proper security measures to protect their nation. Unlike our leaders who knew and peacefully slept on the 20th night”.

Security guidelines

Though the schools reopened, several Universities are not re-open yet as scheduled before until permission is given by the National Security Council.

Sri Lanka University Grants Commission (UGC) says that universities will be re-opened after the security forces ensure the security of university premises.

The commission says police and tri-Forces have been deployed at every university across the island. Each University will be inspected thoroughly by the security personnel before the universities are to resume their academic activities.

In a bid to ensure maximum safety of students and staff the UGC has released guidelines ahead of the commencement of sessions at state universities and higher educational institutes.

All persons including students and academic allowed to enter university after ID card verification, physical body check and checking of all bags, back packs and belongings.

All vehicles including threewheelers (Tuk Tuk), scooters, motorbikes and cycles will be subject to security checks before being permitted to enter the university.

Bags, backpacks are strictly prohibited in lecture halls, examination hall and in the laboratories. Students are strongly advised to minimise carrying bags and backpacks around the university premises and at the canteens.

“Once the security units check the premises of all universities, the status will be reported. Thereafter, the vice chancellors can decide on the dates to recommence their respective universities” UGC issued a statement.

 Meanwhile, The President and Secretary of the Jaffna University Students Union were arrested during a search operation, while apprehended with photos and posters of  LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Face Cover Ban

Sri Lanka government on April 30, issued an extraordinary gazette banning face covers including Muslim females dress Burqas and Niqabs.

"No person shall wear in any public place any garment, clothing or such other material concealing the full face which will in any manner cause any hindrance to the identification of a person" gazette further says.

Following the regulations, now Universities and schools are not allowing students or teachers to enter or stay within the premises with a face covers.

Most of schools and Muslim schools in the country were seen putting up notices to all its staff members, students and visitors to refrain from entering the premises by wearing full-face helmet, Burqa, Niqab or carrying large bags.

Muslim female student told LuN that she feel shy to going to higher education institute without face cover as she is wearing Niqab from long time. 

Sharia University Batticaloa

After the Easter Sunday attacks, students and students unions demanded government to shutdown controversial ‘Sharia University or “Batticaloa campus” saying it spread radical Islamic religious ideology and says it allows students to study Bachelor of Arts in Sharia and Islamic Studies in Islamic Law in Sri Lanka without charging money.

Inter University Students’ Federation IUSF says the largest Islamic university in South Asia is being constructed at Punani in Batticaloa area to promote Islamic religious ideology, with financial assistance from Saudi Arabia and support from government and UGC.

IUSF says university conduct 10 degree courses including Islamic Banking & Finance and Shariah & Islamic Studies.

Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof. Mohan de Silva says that there is no university named ‘Sharia University’ under the jurisdiction of the UGC refusing media reports UGC involvement. 

“University Grants Commission categorically states that no organization by the name of ‘Sharia University’ or ‘Batticaloa Campus’ has ever requested permission, nor given authority by the Commission to conduct degree courses.” UGC said releasing a media release.

Following heavy criticism, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena said on May 8th that Batticaloa University will be regulated under the Higher Education Ministry. President further said that university expected to continue as a private university under the rules and regulations of the Ministry of Higher Education and, there will be a clear decision regarding the curriculum maintained by the university.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka government has expelled around 200 Islamic clerics after the Easter bombings. The clerics are believed to have entered the country legally, but due to security crackdown after the attacks, they were found to have overstayed their visas for which fines were imposed and they were expelled from the island.

Sri Lanka government planning to bring new act “Counter Terrorism Bill” as existing laws are not sufficient to face the global terrorism. Opposition parties and students unions are against the new act saying new act include several articles that suppress the people and completely violate the people's rights.

Inter University Federation says government planning to bring terrorism act to suppress students and launch terror inside universities.

Schools security

The Tri-Forces, Police and the Civil Defense Force together have launched a massive special operation since May 01st to ensure the safety of schools. Every school thoroughly inspected before the resumption of academic activities. Every school has at least one security personnel. In addition, the stationary patrols and special search teams deployed to ensure security of schools.

“Security has been tightened around schools, Principals, teachers, parents, alumni and students are also responsible for the security of school children. Safety of the children is a national and a civic duty of everyone at present. Education Ministry has taken every step to protect the school children” Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said.

During a search operation was collaboratively carried out by the Army, Police and the Special Task Force, about 200 ammunitions were recovered from the premises of a girls’ school in Gampola village. Police suspected that due to intensified raids in the area, someone have thrown away the ammunition parcel into the school premises.

As schools close, some parents asked their children to use internet and online tutorials till schools are open as they are getting ready for university entrance examination this August.

Some parents had to treat their children as they suffered with depression following easter Sunday attacks.  Some students reportedly mentally upset and had to get treatments parents had to

After three successive days of numbness, fear, anxiety, trauma,

Issuing a statement today (May 10), UGC requests Vice Chancellor to decide the dates of academic activities commencement at any date from May 13, if VC’s are satisfied with the security situation.

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