Kelaniya students continue to oppose installation of cameras

Higher education officials and student unions are still at loggerheads over the installation of CCTV cameras at universities. While Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunewardena said all universities are directed to install CCTV cameras to curb and prevent any threats to national security, student unions charged that this is a move to suppress student unions and leaders who speak out against privatising the higher education sector.

Last week 16 students, including a student monk, from Kelaniya University were arrested under the Public Property Act for removal of state-owned camera equipment and produced before courts. They were identified from video footage recorded on the CCTV cameras.

Videos, photos and memes circulated via social media of students removing the cameras, dumping them in waste bins and threatening authorities.

Later four students were ordered to be remanded by the Mahara Magistrate while the others were released on bail. They will appear before courts on March 17.

Twenty- seven students who were involved in the act of vandalism will face a two-year suspension after they were found guilty of removing CCTV cameras.

“Letters have been sent to the residences of the suspected students that the students will face suspension over the illegal act. Four, who are in prison for direct involvement, may possibly lose their right to complete their degrees,” said Wijeyananda Rupesinghe, Director - Media and Communication Division, Kelaniya University. He said the court was informed that the CCTV camera equipment damaged were worth Rs2.6 million.

Udara Sandaruwan, Acting Convener of the Inter University Student Federation, said that the installation of cameras within university premises is a move to curb student freedom.

“The government that is not interested in increasing the annual budget allocation for education, is encouraging universities to purchase costly camera equipment to ensure students are oppressed,” he said.

He said some universities were installing CCTV cameras facing the entrance of student union rooms to monitor the behaviour of student leaders.

“We have met Higher Education Ministry officials, secretaries and we are willing to meet the President and express our regret over the present government’s move to privatise the education system, while suppressing student leaders. ”

“The Easter Sunday attacks and concerns over national security are used as an excuse to suppress student movements. University students are like prisoners now,” he said.

Mr Rupesinghe claimed the students' intention in removing the CCTV cameras was to prevent the recording of ragging of new students arriving for the new academic year on March 9.

“The university has had CCTV cameras since 2012 facing computer laboratories, as required by the World Bank when projects are funded. The management decided to install cameras facing the main entrances; the Dalugama entrance is open to public as well. Therefore, there was a concern about security,” he added.

Mr Rupesinghe said the University had not even paid in full for the CCTV camera installation. “Some damages are irreparable. But the cameras will be re-installed before the new academic year,” he said.

Higher Education Minister Bandula

Gunawardena said the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been advised to refrain from getting involved, as this case comes under the violation of a law of the country.

“They might be university students, but this has been an act of vandalising public property, a punishable offence under the Offences Against Public Property Act. The installation of CCTV cameras was not to curb student activities, but a general measure to ensure national security after Easter Sunday attacks,” he said.

All weekend post-graduate courses, diploma and certificate courses and examinations conducted by the university that were halted resumed yesterday.