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Rule of law should be upheld in seats of higher learning

The Sri Lanka Open University's Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty Board has expressed concern over the Colombo University Law faculty issue and aggression by students against the Vice Chancellor and the academic staff, a press release issued Tuesday said.

The Board at a special meeting held to discuss the current atmosphere of student violence in the Law Faculty deplored unlawful acts of students committed in order to overturn decisions of the university made in accordance with established disciplinary procedures.

The release describes acts such as putting up abusive and defamatory posters regarding staff, damaging their personal property and vandalising their rooms with human waste as uncivilised and criminal offences. They are also punishable under the 'Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act' of 1998 which was specifically enacted by Parliament to protect students and staff from such behaviour.

The Board has emphasised that the rule of law should be upheld particularly in institutes of higher learning. They reiterate that acts of aggression by students against staff will have negative impacts on staff morale and lead to a breakdown in staff student relations and the functioning of universities. The Board has expressed the hope that the Colombo University Council will ensure that student discipline is maintained.

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