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by Manjula Fernando

Tertiary Education and Training Minister Kabeer Hasheem re-assured Sabaragamuwa university student representatives on Wednesday that there was no move to close down their campus. Minister Hasheem said no decision has been taken to close the university as alleged by the student unions and emphasised that some of the long-standing issues cannot be resolved overnight.

The Minister said "We have already taken measures to address the shortage of water supply to the campus. The provincial authorities have been asked to make an arrangements to provide water by bowsers as a short-term solution. In the meantime the Water Supply and Drainage Board has been asked to come up with a long-term solution shortly.

The Minister said students should not have acted irresponsibly by trying to storm the parliament forcing past a police barricade on Wednesday. "It was unreasonable behaviour given that we have already taken action to address their problems," he told students.

He informed the students that already newspaper advertisements have been placed to fill several important posts that had been vacant for sometime and interviews would be conducted shortly.

A large gathering of students marched towards the Parliament on Wednesday to protest the alleged failure by the authorities to take action to address their long-standing grievances. It was organised jointly by the Sabaragamuwa University students council and the Inter University Student Federation.

In a bid to stop the protest march entering the Parliament the Police used tear gas and three students were admitted to hospital with injuries sustained in the commotion.

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