by Saman Indrajith
Undergraduates of Rajarata University yesterday demonstrated at the entrance of the university, demanding the administration to remove a newly appointed local council member to the university council and alleging that the move of reconstituting university councils that took place recently in all universities suppress the academic freedom and independence of universities.

"A council member of the Rajarata University is a politician of the ruling party. This is government’s way to influence the administrative structure of the universities which are to be free and independent," alleged the Convener of the pro-JVP student organisation, Inter University Students’ Federation, Ravindra Mudalige.

The government has requested through the UGC chairman that all university council members must forward their resignations, he alleged. "This government wants to put an end to free university education. They want to change the administrative structure of the universities so that their aim of selling out the university education would be easier. Thus, politicos are being appointed to the university councils which are responsible for the governing of a university."

According to the University Act, the university council is the executive body and governing authority of the university and consists of the vice chancellor, rectors of each campus if any, the deans of each faculty, three members elected by the Senate from among its own members and three members appointed by the UGC from among persons who have rendered distinguished service in educational, professional, commercial, industrial, scientific or administrative spheres.

A senior lecturer of the university said that one council member who was appointed to the council several weeks ago prior to the local government election has been elected to a Pradeshiya Sabha, but when he was appointed he was not a Pradeshiya Sabha member. "He was elected after his appointment. Just because students provoked by pro-JVP IUSF demanding the removal of a council member, the administration cannot ask him to resign," he said.

Vice Chancellor of the university Pro. I. Siriweera was not available for comment.

UGC Chairman Prof. B. R. R. N. Mendis earlier had commented that the reconstitution of the university councils is customary with the change of the government and there is provision for the reappointment of the previous members to the university councils.