Uni. students protest against CoL

28 February 2012 01:18 pm Views - 4159

University students today said they were in the midst of discussions with fisheries, teachers and labour unions who had vowed to unite in their take trade union action in protest against the increasing cost of living and people’s suppression.

Medical students protesting outside the Jayewardenepura medical faculty today vowed to bring together people working in all spheres and that they would continue to protest until their demands were met.

“The people are sick and tired of the high oil prices, the rising price of goods, wastage of funds by the government, and the continuous attempts made to suppress the people,” Medical Faculty Students Action Committee President Nilan Fernando said.

He said the government had spent over Rs.6 billion on the recent Deyata Kirula exhibition but had failed to increase funding for education which had reduced each year according to data in the Central Bank report. “The government could divert funds that were used on defence expenditure for education but this has not happened,” he said.

Students of medical faculties in Karapitiya, Ragama, Colombo, Peradeniya and Rajarata will carry out protests tomorrow (Wednesday) in protest against private medical universities and the Higher Education Ministry’s decision to support the private medical faculty in Malabe and other private institutions that the government had given its support. (Olindhi Jayasundere)