Govt. exploiting COVID situation to arrest protesters: FUTA

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has condemned the actions of the Police in arresting protesters led by the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF), who were protesting the Kotelawala National Defence University (KNDU) Bill.

Issuing a statement under the signature of its President Prof. S. Banneheka, FUTA condemned the “arbitrary” and “brutal” police actions against peaceful protesters on Thursday, the day the KNDU Bill was being debated in Parliament.

“We express our disgust and alarm at how the Government is exploiting health regulations to stifle dissent and protest in the country. The right to assembly and free speech are fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the constitution of Sri Lanka and are a fundamental feature of any democratic society,” the FUTA said.

“It is clear to us at this moment that this Government, unable to contend with the rising wave of public unrest across the country due to economic and health mismanagement, is resorting to violence and intimidation to stifle the legitimate right of people to protest,” it further said.

The association said the KNDU Bill poses a grave risk to the higher education system of the country and it pointed out that a number of bodies including the education trade unions and various other sectors have vehemently opposed the bill.

The bill threatens to fundamentally alter the higher education landscape of the country by normalising a militaristic education model driven sorely by profit motives with little or no concern for quality or basic principles of education, the FUTA claimed.

“It is the sovereign right of the people to oppose such legislation in a democratic country and it is the solemn duty of a democratically elected government to listen to such dissent.”

The association called on all parties who respect democratic traditions within and outside the Government to condemn this “heinous act” and to force the Government to honour the democratic fundamentals through which the country needs to be governed.