Don’t neglect these students

It is a known fact that step- motherly treatment is given to universities like Mapalana Agriculture Faculty at Matara. They have not been given sufficient scholarship and bursary money and students (especially female students) face conditions where they are not able to find proper meals.

The writer who also was a university student at Peradeniya campus in the 1980's knows the condition of hostel facilities where students were given better meals at the hostel itself.

Those days students did not starve as they could ask for more at the dining hall if they desired, whereas male students at Mapalana tend to eat the kernel of coconuts to supplement their meals as meal-packets sold at boutiques outside are insufficient, quantity and quality-wise. Even freshers have to go through a deserted area of about half kilometre to buy their meals at private stalls.

When taxpayers shoulder the burden of luxuries and perks enjoyed by Cabinet Ministers and Government officers, can they be satisfied with the living conditions of the poor university students at Mapalana Agriculture Faculty? We earnestly hope prompt action will be taken by the relevant authorities to alleviate the sufferings of first-year students at Mapalana Agriculture Faculty.

By Affected parent