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Conflicts between Ruhunu students and villagers: Peace talks begin today
View(s):Ruhunu University authorities will meet students and villagers today in bid to get the five faculties of the campus reopened after they were shut down last week due to a clash between undergraduates and villagers.
Vice Chancellor Gamini Senanayake told the Sunday Times the closure of the faculties was a temporary measure aimed at bringing the situation under control after two days of tension. He said a committee had been appointed to probe the recent incidents and its members consisting of academics of the university were talking to both sides to sort out the dispute.
Tharaka Sandaruwan, a student union leader of the university which is situated on the Tangalle Road, Matara, confirmed that a meeting with the villagers had been scheduled for today.
The students say the dispute could be sorted out only if the villagers give an assurance that they would not resort to violence. Residents, however, say that the students behaviour and their regular protests disturbed the peace in the area.
They also insist that the students withdraw their police complaint which they lodged after last week’s incidents.
The Sunday Times learns that the ill-feeling between students and villagers surfaced only after a clash two years ago and since then the situation has been aggravating with little or no effort to bring the dispute to an amicable settlement.
The student leader said a number of students had been attacked over the years and some of them had to be hospitalised. One student even lost his hearing.
Mr. Sandaruwan said students had come under attack twice after their recent demonstration against the private medical institute SAITM. The villagers have warned the students that no such demonstration be held in the neighbourhood.
He said they had complained to the police but very little action had been taken against the perpetrators. The Matara Police declined to comment on the matter.
