Twelve students suspended for assaulting ex-VC of Peradeniya University

Twelve undergraduates of the Peradeniya University students accused of  assaulting a former Vice Chancellor and his family members have been suspended pending an inquiry, a senior academic said.

Deputy Vice Chancellor  Professor Terrance Mudajith of the University of Peradeniya said the suspension came following an investigation into the incident of the attack on the former Vice Chancellor Professor Atula Senaratne and family members at his residence within the Peradeniya Campus

He said that the names of the undergraduates has been handed over to the Police

Professor Mudajith also said that an Committee has been appointed by the Vice Chancellor Professor M.D.Lamawansa to go further into the incident and that the Police have been requested to take further action under the Penal Code.

Professor Mudajith further said that  the attack on the the former Vice Chancellor cannot be looked as a student matter saying that this was an internal affair between the son of the Professor and students. 

“ Professor Senaratne had nothing to do with it and the students must know that he has been a Vice Chancellor of the very same University that they have their studentship,” he said.

Meanwhile several academics have called for the cancellation of the studentship of all the students who have found to be guilty.

The incident occurred last Saturday.  Students had claimed that a car driven by Prof Senaratne’s son had collided with two bikes, but Prof Senaratne said that he had tried move two bikes parked in a manner obstructing the road to his father’s house and in the process two bikes had toppled, but it was not done deliberately .

The son had been assaulted when Prof Senaratne had intervened.

Students also broke into the Professor’s house and caused damage to household items.

By L.B.,Senaratne