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Buddhist and Pali Uni.’s laity, student monks clash over power sharing
View(s):The Buddhist and Pali University in Homagama is the latest to be hit by an internal clash among student monks and laymen, disrupting academic activities.
On Thursday, a court directed to lift the suspension on 16 students, who were suspended following a clash between student monks and laity in the university.
Several student monks staged a sathyagraha when the suspended students were not permitted to sit for an examination which started on September 25.
“Only around 40 students sat for the examination, while 150 student monks refused to do so, until the suspended students were also allowed to do so. It was the laity and foreign students who came. We published newspaper notices informing students to show up for the exam, as it is important to them,” said University’s Vice Chancellor, Ven. Prof. Ittademaliye Indasara Thera.
A court has ordered an investigation into the students discipline, while all students were directed to sit for the exam, including those who were suspended. Ven. Prof. Indasara Thera told the Education Times that university activities are taking place as usual, despite the disruption.
The dispute between the two student groups has been ongoing for about a year, and the university closed for three months following the recent clash. It was again opened for the examination.
A student of the university who wished to remain anonymous, said that the clash was regarding the division of power among the two groups. “Only 20% of the student population are laymen. Priority is given to the student monks. The clash took place when the laity asked for 50%,” he said.
The suspended students and student monks were given a date to sit the exam they missed.
“We are awaiting the court decision, until then university work will continue as usual,” Ven. Prof. Indasara Thera said. (AW)