• We will look after our security – FUTA tells P’ment 
• Proposes dialogue with students of all Pera Faculties  

President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Prof. B.M.H.S.K. Banneheka said that the FUTA is against political intervention in university affairs in the context of the assault of former University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Athula Senaratne, regarding which many Parliamentarians raised concerns in Parliament on Tuesday (13), particularly when the Government has failed to attend to other demands made by the universities.

“The Government has much more serious things to worry about than the discipline of university students. We have disciplinary authorities, chancellors, vice chancellors, and various authorities to address it. Any political interference into our affairs is the last thing that we want because that may bar us from seeing the real picture since they can influence the authorities. We have asked them for so many things. They increased university intakes without increasing facilities and we have been asking them for facilities, and to take measures to stop academics from leaving the country. While we have protested about taxes, and sought to get their attention directed towards so many things, they do not listen, and now all of a sudden, they want to interfere,” he noted while speaking to The Morning yesterday (14). 

Prof. Banneheka also informed that the Arts Faculty of the Peradeniya University will be on strike for three days in response to the assault on Prof. Senaratne by students, and that the related demand of the FUTA is being met by the authorities, referring to the suspension of the students who were involved in the assault by the university, and the Police arrests of the students who were involved.

“We also plan to start a dialogue with the students of all the nine faculties of the university within the next few days in order to find out the root cause of this assault. In our discussions, there have been various ideas that were expressed as to what could be the cause. Some have suggested that it may be due to the fact that for a long period of time, students did not physically attend university but continued their education online, which could have resulted in them not knowing how to behave or conduct themselves, while others have suggested that they could be politically involved with groups, and still others have suggested that they could be under the influence of drugs. Whatever the cause, that does not give them the right to take the law into their own hands,” stressed Prof. Banneheka.

He further added a warning that jumping to conclusions and making assumptions without proof could result in their actions backfiring. “There has to be a prompt and thorough investigation into the cause before anyone can jump to conclusions, because false assumptions can be dangerous. If not, our actions could backfire, and the perpetrators can end up the victims, and sympathy will be given to the wrong party. Whatever the cause, the law should deal with it accordingly. If it was indeed Prof. Senaratne’s son’s fault, then the necessary action should be taken against him, but no assumptions can be made without proof”.

The Police Media has reported that a total of 10 Peradeniya University students were arrested for being involved in the assault and remanded on Tuesday (13) until 22 December. According to a press release issued by the Police Media Division, the arrested students, aged between 23 and 25 years, are from the areas of Nittambuwa, Sandalagala, Giritale, Matale, Hengamuwa, and Galagamwatta. Addressing the media on Monday (12), Police Media Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police and Attorney Nihal Thalduwa said that the reason for the protest was Prof. Senaratne’s son’s vehicle colliding with two motorcycles belonging to two other students. However, the Police are continuing investigations into the cause of the protest and the assault as they have received information indicating otherwise. 

Meanwhile, the Peradeniya Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association has announced that it will engage in a strike action from yesterday to 18 December. Accordingly, the Association’s members will refrain from all duties, including all exam related activities, stating that they no longer feel safe on the University premises. “There are two main reasons as to why we are taking such action. One is to send a message to the authorities to create a safe environment for all activities to take place. The University administration had not made a formal complaint until Tuesday. I think that it is risible that they think an internal inquiry could solve this. Investigative authorities have not done enough to make a safe space in the University as they basically stood by and watched this grotesque and monstrous attack like spectators. Prof. Senaratne’s son was taken in handcuffs just because the Police wanted to show the mob that they had taken someone into custody. He was bare bodied and bleeding. Secondly, we want to send a message out to the students that this kind of gross violence and animalistic behaviour will not be tolerated. What are the values that we teach them? This is unacceptable no matter what their provocation was,” claimed the Association’s President Prof. Arjuna Parakrama while speaking to The Morning yesterday.