Eastern University Sinhalese students transferred to other campuses

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 October 2008, 19:52 GMT]
207 Sinhalese undergraduate students registered at the Eastern University of Sri Lanka (EUSL), Vanthaa'rumoolai, Batticaloa have been transferred to other campuses except the universities in North and East, based on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the administrative office of the Eastern University announced Tuesday.

All activities at Vanthaa'rumoolai campus were temporarily suspended since August 21 after the killing of a Sinhalese student at a hostel within the campus premises. The decision to suspend all activities was taken by UGC due to concerns regarding the safety and security the students.

Normal activities of the campus recommenced 6 October.

However, since the parents of the Sinhalese students of EUSL had repeatedly approached UGC pressuring the commission to ensure the safety of their children, a decision was reached to transfer the students to campuses in other parts of the country, EUSL officials said.

The details of the university students, all in their first year of study, from Vanthaa'rumoolai campus transferred to other campuses are:

• Faculty of Science : Botany - 32, Physics - 37
• Faculty of Agriculture - 10
  
  
• Nursing - 15
  
  
• Commerce - 55
  
  
• Management - 28
  
  
• Engineering - 28

These students have been sent to the universities located at Jeyawardenepura, Peradeniya and Kelaniya.

Meanwhile, police protection is continued to be provided at Vanthaa'rumoolai campus.