‘Wanni & universities are alike, as both are under military control’

Monday, 16 January 2012  

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe says he sees no difference between the Wanni area and the country’s universities, as both are now under the control of the military.

He was addressing UNP activists at western provincial councillor Ajith Mannapperuma’s office in Gampaha yesterday.

Mr. Wickremesinghe questioned as to what would happen if the university students, who have been given military training despite strong opposition, get involved in a clash with the military.

He wanted to know whether the government would seek the intervention of the UN peacekeepers to the country if such a situation arose.

Instead of resolving issues in the universities, this government is doing the worst possible irrational things, he said.

He went onto note that university vice chancellors were discussing about the z-score, without resolving issues in their own universities.

Claiming that higher education has now collapsed, the opposition leader said continuation of this situation would only spell disaster for the country’s students.

If this government is not prepared to solve the national issues realistically, all should unite, overthrow it and appoint a UNP regime, he said.

It is the traitors who go to strengthen the hands of the president, and so are the persons who attacked ‘Sirikotha’ instead of attacking the government, he added.