SYOUC continues Satyagraha

Students Union of the Open University of Colombo (SYOUC) continues it’s Satyagraha for the 38 day until their demands are met said Student Union convener Amila Sandaruwan. He declared that the 17 students have been removed from their student membership and that there are several court cases against 10 university students. Regardless of that, letters of threat and intimidation have been posted to the students and their families, said he.

Inter-University Students’ Federation Convener, Najith Indika explained that they were going to continue the protests with the collaboration of student unions island wide. According to him, the officials have failed to give a solution to the main demand of reducing the university course fee.

“Normally, there is an annual increment of the course fee by 15%. But the increment of the course fee since past two years has been so unfair and an average student is unable to afford such amount,” clarified Najith. He further added that there has been a 100 - 150% increase in the course fee in 2013 and 2014.

Furthermore he stated that, the Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam had visited the Student Sathyagraha last Friday (16) in order to discuss the demands with the protestors. “He said that he can provide all the other demands of the reinstatement of the student membership, removal of student suspensions and several other issues except for the course fee problem. He said that he cannot reduce the course fee and that it is a problem for another day,” said he.

by Kavindya Christopher Thomas

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