INTER UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FEDERATION

20 may 2000

Dear Madam / Sir,

We have decided to submit this letter to you because we feel that is extremely necessary to discuss with you in depth the serious situation faced by the country at the moment

It is quite clear that as Society and as a country, all of us we facing a very serious situation because on me hand the country has been placed on a war foot% while on the other hand the country is moving fast towards separation. Society has hem silenced with an iron curtain by Intensifying war footing Introduced after the incident at Elephant Pass. Society is living in fear of the live of 30.000 Soldiers and about 300,000 to 400,000 civilians

trapped in the peninsula and few of LTTE bomb attacks of the city of Colombo.

There is no doubt about the need for unconiditional invention to extricate the entire Society and each and every Individual from the abyss the country has fallen into, The government has used this as an excuse to Invoke the Civil Defense Act. According to the leaders of the country every cent, every individual and every property has to be set apart for the defence of the country. If we accept this idea nothing should happen nor should be done in contraventiort to the objective of defending the country. Severe punishment should be inflicted in case of Such violations. But there is a problem. The government which came up with the slogan that everything should be for saving the country, Immediately after announcing the decision to govern the country on a war rooting has issued Several other announcements. The most important among them are.

1. Order by the Minister of education to university authorities to implement the university education reforms within this month.

2. The official announcement by the government regard" the sale of Epaulet Phosphate Deposit to Freeport Macaroon Company.

3. Decision to Introduce in Parliament during this month the Bill to transform the Postal Department to a Corporation.

4. Banning of state function, all meeting mid processing by extraordinary gazette notification issued on the 8th of May.

We place this question before you. How does; the slogan "everything is for the saying of the country" conform to the reforms for the privatization of University education? The other question is why something that was earlier decided to be Implemented during this year has been ordered to be Implemented within this month along with the introduction of the war footing That is not all. How m the slogan "every thing is for saving the country" agree with the sale of the Eppawela Phosphate Deposit and the civilization associated with it to an American Company? How dose the burned Sale of the Phosphate Deposit while martial law is in force be in agreement with the above slogan?

.Also, how dose mitiating the sale of the first postal service in Asia agree with everything for saving the country

We believe that all this is clear to you. Bertold Bersht said on an occation like this "people know that war is close at hand when leaders talk about peace."

The authorities will argue as on several earlier Occasions diet it is not correct to decide what them educational reforms are without discussion and as such there should be no baseless opposition to these reforms. The reforms have been decorated with statements indicating that they how been formulated for education the Sri Lankan students to keep up with the globalization trends in the 21st century. But so-called University educational reforms are the following and several others.

1.Lowering the international and educational standards of the higher courses.

2.Sale of the university education to the private sector.

3.Leasing of the university property to private companies.

4. Levyinig of few for lectures and research m addition to hostel fees to generate funds for universities.

5.Ordering the lectures to introduce mechanical and old-fashioned educational system like unit system.

6. Invalidating the district basic in a few years.

On the other hand even if the reforms are of the highest order, why should they be introduced in such a mighty hurry without the knowledge of the public and face of opposition from the lectures

Accordingly it is quite clear diet the government has completely suppressed the fundamental right of and expression and association guaranteed by the canstitution to oppose the action is being taken by it to violate the peoples heritage.

It is in the sacred duty and intention of the Sri Lankan student movement to safeguard our motherland on behalf the entire Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim community living in this courntry which is now being threatened with separation. This has been done by us during entire history of the country and will be done in the future too.

All of must realize that we should oppose any attempt by the government to violate the democratic rights and national heritage while hiding behind the sacred objective of the people to save the country. We should realize with determination and responsibility that devision of the country should not be allowed. Not onlly as a mark of respect to our ancestors who created a great civilization but also becouse we want to benqueath an undivided country with all the heritage and people's right's such as free education and democratic values to Sinhala, Tamil. and Muslim people who are living today and to their children who are not to be born in the future.

Madam / Sir,

We hive indicated above our point of view with regard to the serious situation developing in the country We are sure that you also have your views in this regard You as a member of the intelligentsia will, we hope will intervene to a greater extent in this connection.

Thank you,

Yuur's fathfully,

;

Rev Yatinuwara Rathana

CONVENER

Inter University Student education

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