Inter University Students Federation convener Udul Premarathne, too arrested !

221 students suspended and 29 arrested

13 more are being hunted while thugs backed by politicians assault students
Introduction

This is the third report by the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) – Sri Lanka on the tragic situation
prevailing in our universities. In our first report we examined the restriction of the political freedom of
university academics while the second report focused on student suppression hitherto unseen in ‘peace’
times. In our second report (October, 18, 2010) we warned that the authorities have pushed the students to
the verge of militancy with their excessive repression and the immediate need to address the legitimate
grievances of the university students.

Latest developments

Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) convener, Udul Premarathne was arrested yesterday
(October, 29) just after a discussion with United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya
about the problems faced by students. Its reported that the Police obtained a court order to arrest
Premarathne regarding the clash between students and the police at the Ministry of Higher Education
premises on October 14.

Since our second report fresh incidents were reported from the universities of Ruhuna, Sri
Jayawardanapura, Rajarata, Kelaniya and Eastern. Around 50 students have been suspended and more
than 17 have been arrested or are being hounded by Police. CHR wonders whether it’s only a coincidence
that most of these students are officials/prominent activists of legitimate student councils.

University of Rajarata

Four female students sat for the semester exam while the other students of the Faculty of management are
boycotting the exams. It has been reported that students of the IUSF have attacked these four students on
their way to the exam hall. Meanwhile the president of the Student Council, Chinthaka Rajapaksha, and
several other students have been arrested while a large number of others have been suspended.

A large Police contingent has been stationed inside the university from October, 27, 2010. The police
officers have inspected the entire university including the Student Council office. Students complain that

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the police officers are misusing their authority. On October, 28 students protested stating that a police
officer tried to ‘feel’ a female student under pretext of checking her bag.

University of Sri Jayewardenepura

18 student monks have been suspended when the sub warden of the Sri Jayawardenapura university hostel
for students monks alleged that he was assaulted by a group of students. These new suspensions raise the
number of suspended students of the university to 57. 56 students have been arrested and 18 or more are
Buddhist monks.

A list of student monks who have been suspended

1. Agalakada Pragnarama Thero 10. Okyaye Anandanada Thero

2. Kimbullewe Chandananda Thero 11. Kotagama Santhasiri Thero

3. Galle Seelarathane Thero 12. Wanasirigama Sirirathana Thero

4. Mullegama Dharmarakkitha Thero 13. Pasgoda Sumiththa Thero

5. Welagathwala Dhammanada Thero 14. Maligathenne Dhammawansa Thero

6. Wekumbure Seelarathana Thero 15. Kamburupitiye Gnaneeswara Thero

7. Maradhankadawala Gunarathana Thero 16. Kegalle Pangnarathana Thero

8. Mehellegama Wimalarathana Thero 17. Andarawewa Sujatha Thero

9. Raththangama Seelalankara Thero 18. Alawatte Gnanarathana Thero

The university administration does not allow the students to conduct even a cultural and/or religious
activity. Administrators are alleging the students of sexual harassment, drugs and military training. This
has tarnished the image of the university which commenced as the Vidyodaya Pirivena under the great
monk scholar Soratha Thero.

The administrators have politicized all aspects of university life including student welfare and library
services.

University of Wayamba

By October, 28, 2010 eighty nine (89) university students have been suspended. These include 31 from
the Faculty of Management, 31 students from the Faculty of Applied Sciences, and 17 from the Food and
Nutrition & Agriculture Departments. It is reported that the police are conducting investigations to arrest
some students about alleged damaging of university property.

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University of Peradeniya

Four students are still in custody regarding the ‘booing’ of Minister of Higher Education SB Dissanayake.
The court postponed the next hearing for three months since the Attorney General’s Department objected
to grant bail to the students. The incident occurred on July, 12, 2010 and the students are languishing in
remand custody since September, 23.

Unless the Supreme Court intervenes these students will have to spend at least four months in jail for
‘booing’ an individual. Eminent leaders like SWRD Bandaranaike and Dudley Senanayake have been
‘booed’ at Peradeniya in the past but they did not take any action against students.

University of Kelaniya

A tense situation arose between students and administrators when authorities decided to remove male
students from internal hostels earlier this month. The administrators and the police went to the court
claiming that students have damaged university property and the court ordered the students to leave the
university premises.

Meanwhile a group calling themselves ‘parents of university students’ protested the IUSF’s violence in
front of the university on October, 27. But the ‘anti violence’ protest turned violent when the protestors
brutally assaulted a university student who was in the bus halt waiting to go home following the court
order. The ‘parents’ were shepherded by a UPFA politician I Kelaniya who is famous for his violent
antics. Although the student has lodged a complaint the police has so far taken no action despite the
availability of photographic and video evidence.

Instead of taking action against those who assaulted the student the police arrested the president of the
university Student Union Dayan Weerakkody and a former president of the Sri Jayewardenepura who was
with Weerakkody.

Number of students arrested by October 28th, 2010

University Number

University of Sri Jayewardenepura 02

University of Kelaniya 01

University of Rajarata 12

University of Ruhuna 01

University Peradeniya 10

University Indigenous Medicine, Rajagiriya 01

Total 27

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In addition IUSF convener Udul Premarathne was remanded till November, 12 by the Fort Magistrate on
October, 29.

Number of suspended students

University Number Number Total suspended

suspended by suspended by by Oct. 28th
October 18 October 28

Un. of Sri J'pura 66 16 82

University of Rajarata 24 24

University of Ruhuna 06 06

University Peradeniya 09 09

University of Wayamba 89 89

University of Moratuwa 11 11

Total 199 22 221

Annex 1

Names of suspended students

University of Sri Jayewardenepura

1. GMPS Jayasundara 10. RMA Fernando

2. TMA Perera 11. LG Dulan

3. HMM Edirisinghe 12. PHR Sampath

4. HASM Samarasinghe 13. KKNS Karunathilake

5. HSR Sujith 14. RKKAI Kelum

6. JAM Dhanushka 15. VGP Rukmal

7. PC Rathnayake 16. EKN Tharangani

8. LGR Viraj 17. RMAK Thilakarathne

9. HMKS Herath 18. SK Sandaruwan

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 19. KDLD Asanka 36. PVC Maduranga

20. HMSI Jayathilake 37. WAN Chandrasuriya

21. IMPH Bandara 38. AGDSJ Kumara

22. KDM Perera 39. RAMK Thilakarathne

23. AMSK Alahakoon 40. HMC Sandaruwan

24. WKL Prasanna 41. WCMCR Wijesekara

25. HPSS Pathirana 42. ALR Sirimevan

26. LGP Lokugamhewa 43. NAS Madusanka

27. KPG Deshapriya 44. MUR Hettiarachchi

28. RAN Priyanka 45. WSMA Vijaya Kulathilake

29. DMNJK Balasooriya 46. MR Premathilake

30. WPP Gayantha 47. NHI Nuwan

31. SMGWS Mahalelwala 48. WKG Lakmal

32. SMRM Samarakoon 49. BBMSH Kumara

33. SLS Hettiarachchi 50. IHC Rukshan

34. RMBS Rathnayake

35. KGP Niroshan

Note - names of 18 suspended student monks are given above as a separate list.

University of Rajarata – Mihinthale Complex

1. EAP Buddhika - President of the Student Council

2. RVGC Weerasinghe – President of the Student Council, faculty of Social Sciences

3. MAGL Roshana – Secretary, Student Council

4. RMCS Rajapaksa

5. Nihal Thilakarathne - President of the Student Council, Faculty of Management

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Faculty of Agriculture - Puliyankulama

1. MMJB Yapa 11. PGG Bandara

2. DC Gunawardane 12. IS Manawasinghe

3. RGP Madugalle 13. GSP Perera

4. EMS Ekanayake 14. KDS Koralagamage

5. SP Fernando 15. TGCS Bandara

6. RAHV Perera 16. RPGA Deepal

7. WMS Jayasekara 17. RMKS Chandana

8. AHRP Abeysekara 18. DS Attanayake

9. SMCB Samarakoon 19. KMSN Kalhara

10. SAMC Samarakoon

University of Ruhuna

1. RM Nilakshi Deepika 7. PBSMIG Basnayake

2. Sumith Abeywardane 8. KCS Raveendra Antony

3. RBNM Sampath 9. RBSM Kumara

4. Vijitha Surendra Jayasinghe 10. SAA Ranasinghe

5. WMU Sri Wickremenayake 11. WSCS Iroshan Indika

6. K Roshan Pradeep Kumara 12. MG Chandrathilake

List of students in police custody or in remand

1. Udul Premarathne – IUSF Convenor

University of Rajarata – Mihinthale Complex

1. RMCS Rajapaksha 6. JUK Wijesinghe

2. Nihal Thilakarathne 7. Indikla Sameera Dassanayake

3. WATD Sumanadasa 8. Udara Prasad Wijeweera

4. Nivanthaka Tennakoon 9. SMAS Chandrasekara

5. Chinthaka Nanayakkara 10. CJS Gunawardane

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Faculty of Agriculture- Puliyankulama

1. EMS Ekanayake – President Student Union

2. SP Fernando – Vice President Student Union

University of Peradeniya

1. WGCL Kumara 6. MAG Madusanka

2. WAPD Wedisinghe 7. GIRK Galgamuwa

3. EWAS ERathne 8. WDC Weersekara

4. JMU Jayasundara 9. IHILJ Kumara

5. RPP Amarasinghe 10. ZAPTY Sandaruwan

Others

1. HG Vipul Chandana Ruwan Kumara – Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, Rajagiriya

(Report Compiled by Anupama Ganegoda)

What is CHR - Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Human Rights Centre is an independent, nonprofit making organization consisting civil society activists,
lawyers and professionals. The reports of the centre try to focus on Human Rights violations and the injustices to
individuals and groups.

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