IUSF calls off satyagraha campaign near Colombo-Fort railway station
“We strongly believe that civil education should not have any military involvement. In a democratic framework, c iv i l students are groomed to question authorities and not just follow orders,” he said.
Demanding the Government to withdraw controversial amendments to the Act and reopen state universities were the Government Dental Surgeon’s Association, Federation of Media Employees and Trade Unions, Protect Union, Ceylon Bank Employees Union, Gover nment Printing Employees Union, and a number of other trade unions.
The protestors claimed the Government was trying to oppress the student movement by delaying the re- opening of state universities and delaying academic activities.
Gover nment Dental Surgeon’s Association Secretary Vi p u l a Wickremasinghe said both actions by the Gover nment will add more to the growing unpopularity.
Dharmasiri Lankapeli of the Federation of Media Employees and Trade Unions said by getting the UGC Chairman represented in the governing body of the Kotelawala University which consists of top military o f f i c i a l s, the Government was promoting military involvement even in the higher education sector.
The CTU’s Jo s eph Stalin said unions will c o n t i nue to pro t e s t against the Government’s move to take away the UGC’s role as the main regulator of state universities and give powers to a military university to establish schools and therefore pose a threat to the country’s free education system.
Student unions representing many state universities joined the satyagraha and protest march held in Colombo on Friday.