J’PURA CAMPUS BOMB
Who is responsible, what are the consequences?
T his week Action Mirror takes a closer look at the incident that took place at the Sri Jayawardanepura University. INTER UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ FEDERATION (IUSF) CONVENER
SANJEEWA BANDARA
The bomb went off at 2.45a.m. and when the university students rushed to the scene they saw the memorial statue damaged. We presumed that due to the noise the damage was caused by a bomb blast. The students had immediately called 119. Going by their response we presumed they might have been pre warned since they did not react with urgency and concern. They recorded the information and said they would send their officers
he police arrived at the scene only in the morning at around 5.00a.m. This is not the way to respond to an emergency situation as this. What if the bomb went off during the day? It would have surely injured the students. It is a shame to say that the police were least concerned when they arrived. We became their suspects even before the investigations or inquiries could have started.
The students said when they came running to the crime scene they saw two retired officers of the military who now work for the Rathnalanka security firm that provides security to Universities islandwide. The firm is privately owned by the Defence Secretary. If we were there at that time the police would have surely arrested us but they did not arrest Major Dahanayake and another who were suspects in this incident.
When we called 119 they asked us what kind of a bomb it was. How are we supposed to know whether it was a grenade, petrol bomb or time bomb? We suspect the Rathnalanka security firm as their duty was at the gates. Why did they have to come near the memorial statue?
Beside this what is the purpose of having an armoured vehicle to guard the university entrance if incidents as this will continue to happen. We demand an explanation and if the authorities are in their right minds they will accept the fact that we did not bomb our own memorial.
PROCTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SRI JAYAWARDANEPURA
PROF M.W. JAYASUNDARA
The students union made a big issue but only the leg of the statue was damaged. They accuse the private security firm Ratanalanka for the wrong doing. How can that be especially since the firm is made up of officers who have retired from the security forces? The students union hated them from the start and now they will be happy if they can pin this on them.
They are saying that the vice chancellor did it and therefore he has to be removed. This caused a lot of trouble and disturbance. If any outsider would have done it they would try and destroy the entire stature not just cause damage to its leg. This is acause of suspi- cion. There is something fishy about this and I’m sure the police will catch the culprits.
The point is we were able to stop ragging for a couple of years but now the students whom we have temporarily suspended have come back.
NUGEGODA DIVISION SSP
DESHABANDU TENNAKOON
We are investigating into the complaints made by all parties. A bomb exploded and we were at the scene as soon as possible. When we got to the scene the students had assaulted a few of the Rathnalanka security personnel who have now lodged a complaint with us. One of the Rathnalanka personnel was hospitalized. Amongst the three suspects identified is a Buddhist monk. We will be taking this to courts.
He said that it was too early to comment on the explosion and what triggered it. Therefore he did not commit on the type of blast. Although initial Police reports alleged that it might be a petrol bomb.