Indiscipline too much to handle:

J'pura Vice Chancellor steps down

BY MANJULA Fernando

VICE CHANCELLOR of the Sri Jayawardenapura University Prof. Chandima Wijebandara tendered his resignation yesterday citing indiscipline and lack of cooperation among a minority of students which has made it impossible for him to continue in his post.

He said a certain group of students were threatening to throw the University administration into chaos. He and his Deputy Prof. W. S. Fernando have decided to step down. "Enough is enough," the Vice Chancellor told a media briefing at the University Grants Commission Auditorium yesterday.

Prof. Wijebandara said he decided to resign to make way for someone who can bring back discipline to the university grounds.

"It is frustrating to see that a small faction of students driven by their hunger for power is creating chaos in the university and withholding other students' rights for freedom of opinion and education," Prof. Wijebandara said.

"We had been giving in to many of their unreasonable demands but there is a limit," the Vice Chancellor said adding that he had tendered his resignation to the President yesterday.

"Myself and the others in the staff including the Deputy Vice Chancellor who were brought here by me after a lot of persuasion, gave of our best to strike a balance between the administration's and student's demands.

"But the pressure by these small group is too strong. It wares us down. This group is impossible to tolerate," the Vice chancellor said explaining his decision to resign from the post less than one year from his appointment after the former Vice Chancellor Dr. D. S. Epitawatte was removed following the death of an undergraduate in a violent student clash.

Seven members of the Student Union was suspended by the university senate recently in a disciplinary inquiry.

"These students accepted responsibility for forcefully taking a group of freshers (girls) for a 'till' campaign in Nawalapitiya which was against university rules. If the students breach the law we have to take some action to set an example. We can't let the offenders go scot free. This was the mildest possible disciplinary action we could take but they are asking for a revocation without conditions which is unacceptable."

He said the students were spreading outrageous rumours about some members of the staff including the Marshal (officer in charge of discipline) who is a well respected Professor and a specialist doctor who took up this 'unpopular post' abandoning his private practice.

He said he had discussed the matter with the UGC authorities and did not wish to continue in a place he think his services were not welcomed. The media conference was also attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. W. S. Fernando and Deans Prof. Hilary Silva, Prof. Narada Warnasuriya, Prof. Jayantha Jayawardena and the Acting Registrar Dammika Chandratilleke.