The Inter-University Students' Federation (IUSF) levelled several allegations against the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Ruhuna Prof. Sujeewa Amarasena yesterday (12), stating that the latter should be suspended with immediate effect and allegations against him be investigated through an independent commission.
Speaking at a media briefing, IUSF Convenor Wasantha Mudalige claimed that Prof. Amarasena favouring some of the University students, while the majority of students are facing many difficulties under his administration over the past four years.
Claiming that the VC has given a certain student who has studied in English medium and failed several examinations the opportunity to sit for the relevant examinations in Sinhala, he said that many other students have been arrested by the Police and suspended for false accusations under Prof. Amarasena's administration.
“Many students are deprived of hostel facilities. 19 students have been arrested by the Police under false charges. More than 250 students have been suspended from lectures and classes. The Students’ Union office has been sealed by the University administration. Also, several first-year students have been suspended recently for watching the FIFA World Cup last year. In addition, one student has been suspended for having attended a protest in Galle on 13 January 2023. All this has happened under Prof. Amarasena's administration.” alleged Mudalige.
Speaking further, he claimed that a lecturer of the Faculty of Engineering of the University has also been suspended by Prof. Amarasena based on false allegations. He said that the VC is seeking vengeance on everyone, including students, teachers, and non-academic staff members who are not loyal to the VC.
“There is a security officer who is loyal to the VC. This security officer has asked for sexual bribes from two female security officers. When those two officers informed the VC about it in writing, he (Prof. Amarasena) had not taken any action against the security officer. He should have conducted a disciplinary inquiry against the said officer, but no such thing happened.” added Mudalige.
Further claiming that the officer who is in charge of discipline of students and Deputy VC of the University are acting as per the wishes of Prof. Amarasena, he alleged that they too are seeking revenge from students and university teachers who are speaking up against them. Mudalige also charged that the Deputy VC's wife is carrying out a business using University's water and electricity, which he said amounts to a serious financial irregularity.
“The VC is acting as if he owns the University just like former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa thought that the country belonged to him, and as incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe thinks that he owns the country. This is a serious issue. Therefore, we would like to tell the VC that he does not have any options. He committed all these wrongdoings for more than four years and now it is enough. Students, teachers, and other staff members will not allow him to act in such a manner again.” he said.
Calling on President Wickremesinghe, Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Senior Prof. Sampath Amaratunga and other relevant authorities to take action to suspend Prof. Amarasena as the VC, Mudalige said that allegations against him should be investigated by appointing an independent commission.
“In order to demand that action be taken against him, several parties such as students, the Federation of University Teachers' Association (FUTA), and the University's non-academic staff members have planned to hold a protest on Monday (13). We have also planned to hold another protest on Wednesday (15). The Government should immediately look into this and take necessary steps. We will never stop this struggle until that is done.” concluded the IUSF Convenor.