Sri Lanka: Undergraduates to battle military training plan

By Dasun Edirisinghe | The Island
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The Inter-University Students Federation says it will not allow President Rajapaksa’s government to militarise Universities. The IUSF, affiliated to the JVP, yesterday launched a protest campaign at university level to pressure the government to drop a controversial plan to force the next batch to undergo military training before the beginning of their academic programme.

IUSF Convener Sanjeewa Bandara told The Island that the programme was part of a sordid UPFA operation to militarise universities.

Higher education secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne last week declared that a leadership programme would commence on May 23, subsequent to a three month - English course.

"Undergraduates should never be placed under the military. The Higher Education Ministry can conduct leadership programmes at Universities without forcing undergraduates to receive instructions from the military," Bandara said. He said that undergraduates would protest opposite universities beginning Monday (25) to Friday. This would be followed by a black flag protest, he said, adding they would also wear black armbands at lectures.

The IUSF was also in the process in planning a major protest in Colombo against the Higher Education ministry’s move.

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