Sabaragamuwa Uni: Students say let us come back, authorities say no room yet

By Isuri Kaviratne

The problems at the Sabaragamuwa University in Belihuloya, that have resulted in more than a month-long closure, are showing little signs of being resolved with the latest round of talks between authorities and students failing. The controversy surrounds the students’ demand that the Applied Science Faculty which is presently at Buttala be shifted to the Belihuloya premises. However, authorities say there is no room at present.

One of the lecture halls at Sabaragamuwa University

The students who met Deputy Education Minister Mohammad Mustafa have refused to accept the government-appointed-committee report forwarded regarding the issue. Applied Science Faculty Union president Thilina Kurukulasuriya said the committee had ignored suggestions put forward by the student body. He said one of the suggestions was to divide the three existing large lecture halls at the Sabaragamuwa University into more lecture rooms for Applied Science Faculty students too. However, Mr. Mustapha said that the cabinet has approved the setting up of new buildings in the Sabaragamuwa university premises for the Applied Science Faculty and that the project would be completed by 2009.

He said the committee setup to look into the problem of the students had also pointed out that there was inadequate space at present to accommodate the Applied Science Faculty. He said however that the final year students of the Applied Science Faculty could shift to the Sabaragamuwa University premises in mid 2008.

Students do not agree with this suggestion and say if the authorities could provide laboratory and other facilities for the final year students why couldn’t they do so for the whole faculty. He also said they wouldn’t mind facing difficulties while the buildings came up at the Sabaragamuwa premises rather than study in Buttala.