Mangalanath Liyanarachchi – Trincomalee
The students of the Trincomalee campus face an uncertain future if government plans to move their campus to an insecure location are realized.
Students of the Eastern University’s Trincomalee campus have begun protests against the government’s plans under the Nagenahira Navodya programme to shift the campus to an unprotected area in Nilaveli.
The students claim that such a move which they believe to be politically influenced would not only jeopardize their chances for an education but also place their lives in danger.
The Trincomalee campus is perhaps one of the few universities in the country that does not hamper academic curricula through strikes, boycotting of classes or even ragging of students. In a province set a blaze by war, more than 200 students from various parts of the island- whether Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim have been drawn together at this campus through the struggle to educate themselves.
Situated in Trincomalee town the campus began as an affiliate of the Jayawardenapura University, which offered Diploma courses in management commencing from 1993. In 2001 it was established as the Trincomalee campus of the Eastern University by the University Commission. At present the campus offers degree courses in media communication, IT and business management.
In the past due to issues of space a necessity arose to shift the campus to accommodate the increasing number of students. The authorities selected an unprotected site at the Nilaveli Koneshwarapuri area situated about 15 kilometres from Trincomalee. Although the area is under the control of security forces the safety of the students cannot be guaranteed as fighting is still reported from the Koneshwarapuri area which is also infamous for abductions and killings.
“Moving to this area would be as though we were sacrificing our lives for this Negenahira Navodaya programme,” said Sampath Perera, President of the Students’ Association, Trincomalee Campus.
The students are wary of political motives behind the government’s efforts to move the campus to an area with no facilities and above all no security, despite areas in close proximity to Trincomalee town which could house the students.
Students claim that even at now various unofficial armed groups as well as those in Tiger organizations are active in the Nilaveli Koneshwarapuri area.
“Various armed gangs are active in this area. From time to time people are assassinated. Moving us to such a place would be similar to writing our death certificates…” said a student who did not want to divulge his name.
The proposed area for the campus lacks the minimum facilities required for such a building and foremost among them are transport, highway, postal and hospital facilities.
Many students who study at the campus follow other professional courses during the weekends, and go to the capital as well as to adjacent towns. Moving the campus would hinder such activities.
“Although we are awarded a Degree from the university we need professional training in order to get a job. Most of the students either go to Colombo or Kurunegala during the weekends, for this. We travel in the night train or the bus, more often than not. If our campus is taken to Nilaveli, none of this will be possible,” says Chathurika Palangasinghe, a second year student.
“We are not asking them to continue to have the campus here… we are asking the government not to move us from here until the war situation and environment has improved further,” added M. I. Smeera, a second year student.
Despite the fact that the Eastern province was liberated from the Tigers peace has yet to be restored. It was just recently that a claymore bomb targeted passengers on a bus along the Trincomalee Nilaveli road.
Venerable Wegama Khemasara the only monk studying for a degree in Media Communication speaking to GroundView said they would take whatever action possible against this arbitrary decision.
“As students of this, Trincomalee University we have never uttered a slogan or protest against the Government. We had enough and more shortages here. But we put up with all that because we live amidst a war. However we cannot in any way agree with this decision of the Government. We are not asking them not to move the university to Nilaveli, only to postpone the move. Because the present situation is not suitable…”
Sampath Perera said the students had already raised awareness amongst all parties. Saying “the University Grants Commission should understand the dilemma the Trincomalee University students’ are in. If by chance, the Sinhalese students abandon the Trincomalee university, due to this decision, the Government and the University Grants Commission should accept the responsibility. This is clearly a problem concerning our lives.”
The Senior Assistant Secretary, Eastern University, S. Sathyaseelan who declined to comment regarding the governments decision to move the Trincomalee Campus said it was futile to protest as the decision of the Government and the University Grants Commission would not be amended.
This submission is from Groundview, an independent publication by CHA on humanitarian issues and peacebuilding in Sri Lanka with narratives and content produced by citizens.