The Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) said that it is against any kind of political meeting held within university premises with the participation of Presidential candidates of any party.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), IUSF Convenor Madushan Chandrajith said that the IUSF would not endorse any political meeting organised by Presidential candidates of any party and would not let the university premises be a platform where rallies of political parties are held ahead of the Presidential Election.

State Minister of Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan, alleged that some universities are planning to invite politicians and Presidential candidates to universities, opining that such moves should be stopped. 

“I am informed that some State universities are making plans to invite politicians and Presidential candidates to universities. This should be stopped completely. Universities are solely for academic activities. Politics must be kept away from university premises,” Raghavan said.

Chandrajith stated that the recent protest that took place on Monday (29) at the University of Kelaniya was launched against the attendance of President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the University. He claimed that the Government is trying to use universities as a part of Wickremesinghe's Presidential campaign, adding that the students' protest was therefore a good example for those who are planning to do the same.

Moreover, Chandrajith noted that no politician has the moral right to come to universities at a time when the continuous grievances of the students are being neglected by the political elite. He said that the IUSF would not let any Presidential candidate hold meetings inside the universities, despite his or her political leanings.

He said that students as individuals have the right to hold any political view inside the universities and that student activism is always promoted by the IUSF. “But, politicians are not allowed to hold meetings. They don’t have a right to do so. They have not addressed any of the issues that we raised. Yesterday (29), several students were attacked during the protest. First, they have to be patient enough to tolerate our opinions,” he added.

The University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunge and the Spokesperson of the Federation of University Teachers' Associations, Senior Lecturer Charudaththa Illangasinghe were unavailable for comment.