Furore over Jennings hits Peradeniya

Asela KURULUWANSA

Academic work at the Peradeniya University came to a standstill yesterday as the teaching staff boycotted lectures after a group of unruly students protested against naming the new hostel after Sir Ivor Jennings.

The students had defaced and thrown away the new signboard.

Academic staff members who detested this action by the students kept away from their lectures. They said the students should apologise to the university authorities over their action and if they fail to do so, administrative staff would also walk out on Monday.

It was also reported that the students had tried to affix a nameboard with the name of a student leader in the presence of Vice Chancellor Anura Wickramasinghe. This has caused consternation among the staff. The staff has called for stringent legal and disciplinary action against the errant students.

The Vice Chancellor told the Daily News that a majority of students condemned the behaviour of the particular student group.