Inter University Students' Federation
Encyclopedia
Inter University Students' Federation aka anthare is a students' union
affiliated to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
(JVP), a Marxist-Leninist political party
in Sri Lanka
.
, University of Kelaniya
, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
and University of Ruhuna
. Several student unions from other universities also come under the IUSF. The sole official of the union is known as the convener. Convener carries out all administrative and legal work on behalf of the union. Inter University Bhikku Federation is an affiliated organization to IUSF.
such as Lanka Sama Samaja Party
, Communist Party
and Sri Lanka Freedom Party
. But with the JVP led marxist youth
rebellion
in 1971, JVP secured a dominant position among university students in the country. This position was further strengthened by the police-killings of university students such as Rohana Weerasuriya - a student union leader of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya
in 1976, Padmasiri Abeysekera, student of University of Peradeniya
in 1984 and Rohana Ratnayake - a student of University of Colombo
in 1984 with university students degressing from main stream politics. In this context, Inter University Students' Federation was established in 1978 amalgamating the student unions that already supported the political views of JVP. Shantha Bandara
of University of Peradeniya
was the first convener of IUSF.
on 15 December 1986. He, along with a colleague Somasiri were abducted to a lonely spot off the Bolgoda Lake in Piliyandala
and tortured. Although the latter was survived, Pathirana succumbed to his wounds. This assassination is considered as the first targeted casualty of 1987–89 JVP Insurrection.
in early 1980s. Due to these protests, it was prohibited in 1984. The ban was lifted few years later. IUSF states its mission is ..to save free education and [act] against the privatization of education that turns education in to a commodity. In recent times, most of its campaigns were against the plans to set up private higher educational institutions on the grounds of destroying free education
which existed in the country since 1 October 1945. It claims that it is the front in saving free education and acadamic and welfare matters in education.
banned IUSF from entering to the university premises in June 2010. Previously, University of Colombo
and University of Moratuwa
have taken steps to ban the student group from the university. IUSF has been accused of the murder of Samantha Vithanage
, a third year Management student of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
, who pioneered an anti-ragging campaign in the university.
in Sri Lankan universities. Instead, rival groups such as International Students for Social Equality have suggested that IUSF uses ragging as a means of attracting a following among more backward students. At the beginning, ragging served as a social equalizer in the universities. But with the emergence of JVP-backed student unions such as IUSF, ragging has served primarily to ensure the continuing domination of JVP political power within the universities, academics suggest.
Nalin de Silva
- Dean of the faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya
- complained that pro-JVP IUSF students have threatened him with death for not agreeing to their political ideologies.
and the country's busiest urbs has become common in the recent times. These picketings usually cause traffic jams and chaos in the city with police using tear gas and water cannon
s to disperse the gathering. This has resulted in public inconvenience regularly.
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
affiliated to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
The Janathā Vimukthi Peramuṇa is a Marxist-Leninist, Communist political party in Sri Lanka. The party was involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987-89...
(JVP), a Marxist-Leninist political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Overview
IUSF comprises student unions representing four main universities in Sri Lanka. They are University of PeradeniyaUniversity of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
, University of Kelaniya
University of Kelaniya
The University of Kelaniya is a state university of Sri Lanka. Situated just outside the municipal limits of Colombo, in the ancient and historic city of Kelaniya, the University has two major campuses, seven locations, six faculties and four institutions....
, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is one of the Universities in Sri Lanka. It is located in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, near Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the capital city of Sri Lanka...
and University of Ruhuna
University of Ruhuna
The University of Ruhuna is a university in Matara, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1978 and is organized in seven faculties. The faculties of Engineering and Medicine are in Galle.-History:...
. Several student unions from other universities also come under the IUSF. The sole official of the union is known as the convener. Convener carries out all administrative and legal work on behalf of the union. Inter University Bhikku Federation is an affiliated organization to IUSF.
History
Before 1970s, Sri Lankan university student unions were mainly affiliated with left-wing political partiesLeft-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
such as Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka....
, Communist Party
Communist Party of Sri Lanka
The Communist Party of Sri Lanka is a communist political party in Sri Lanka. At the last legislative elections, on 2 April 2004, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance that won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats....
and Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
. But with the JVP led marxist youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
rebellion
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
in 1971, JVP secured a dominant position among university students in the country. This position was further strengthened by the police-killings of university students such as Rohana Weerasuriya - a student union leader of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
in 1976, Padmasiri Abeysekera, student of University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
in 1984 and Rohana Ratnayake - a student of University of Colombo
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
in 1984 with university students degressing from main stream politics. In this context, Inter University Students' Federation was established in 1978 amalgamating the student unions that already supported the political views of JVP. Shantha Bandara
Shantha Bandara
Shantha Bandara alias Mahanama was the first convenor of the Inter University Students' Federation and a key leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist-Leninist political party in Sri Lanka...
of University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
was the first convener of IUSF.
Assassination of Daya Pathirana
Students affiliated to the Inter University Students' Federation have been accused for the assassination of Daya Pathirana, the leader of the Independent Students Union (ISU) of Colombo UniversityUniversity of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
on 15 December 1986. He, along with a colleague Somasiri were abducted to a lonely spot off the Bolgoda Lake in Piliyandala
Piliyandala
Piliyanadala is a suburb of Sri Lankan capital Colombo, which is situated approximately 18 km south of Colombo.Piliyandala, Sri Lanka is one of the relatively more populated cities located in the Colombo District of the Western_Province,_Sri_Lanka and it is surrounded by Moratuwa, Kesbawa,...
and tortured. Although the latter was survived, Pathirana succumbed to his wounds. This assassination is considered as the first targeted casualty of 1987–89 JVP Insurrection.
Protests and campaigns
First campaign of the union was against the revoking of rice welfare given to people who suffered from poverty. Then it conducted similar protests against the infamous "White Paper on Education" in 1981, prohibition of May day and plans to set up North Colombo Medical CollegeNorth Colombo Medical College
North Colombo Medical College was the first privately funded medical school in Sri Lanka. It started in 1980 with the admission of 100 local and 20 foreign students. The first batch of students began graduating in 1990. Dr. Heenilame was its first Chairman and Dr. W.D. Ratnavelle, its first Director...
in early 1980s. Due to these protests, it was prohibited in 1984. The ban was lifted few years later. IUSF states its mission is ..to save free education and [act] against the privatization of education that turns education in to a commodity. In recent times, most of its campaigns were against the plans to set up private higher educational institutions on the grounds of destroying free education
Free education
Free education refers to education that is funded through taxation, or charitable organizations rather than tuition fees. Although primary school and other comprehensive or compulsory education is free in many countries, for example, all education is mostly free including...
which existed in the country since 1 October 1945. It claims that it is the front in saving free education and acadamic and welfare matters in education.
IUSF and JVP
Although IUSF has never admitted this in public, it is widely regarded as a wing organization of JVP. Many former IUSF leaders have later become JVP parliamentarians and activists. Thus it is often criticized as acting for the needs of the Marxist political party.Notable leaders
- Shantha BandaraShantha BandaraShantha Bandara alias Mahanama was the first convenor of the Inter University Students' Federation and a key leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist-Leninist political party in Sri Lanka...
- Founding leader and the first convener of IUSF. Drop-out of University of PeradeniyaUniversity of PeradeniyaThe University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
and a prominent leader of JVP. Involved in the unsuccessful JVP insurrection during 1987-1989. Killed in January 1990. - Sunil HandunnettiSunil HandunnettiSunil Handunnetti is a Sri Lankan politician and a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He contested the 2010 parliamentary elections under the Democratic National Alliance , which is led by former army chief Sarath Fonseka and was re-elected to Parliament from Colombo District.-References:...
- Former convener of the IUSF, member of the Parliament of Sri LankaParliament of Sri LankaThe Parliament of Sri Lanka is the 225-member unicameral legislature of Sri Lanka. The members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation for six-year terms, with universal suffrage. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws...
, member of the central committee of JVP and contested the 2010 Sri Lanka Parliamentary elections under the Democratic National AllianceDemocratic National AllianceThe Democratic National Alliance was short lived political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It was introduced on Wednesday June 7, 2006 after its first meeting at the Crowne Plaza, Port of Spain...
(DNA), which is led by former army chief Sarath FonsekaSarath FonsekaGardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, known as Sarath Fonseka is a former commander and General of the Sri Lanka Army and a former candidate for President of Sri Lanka. As Commander of the Army, he played an instrumental role in ending the 26 year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, defeating the...
and was re-elected to Parliament from the Colombo District. - Ranjitham Gunaratnam - Former convener of the IUSF and a drop out of the Faculty of Engineering, University of PeradeniyaFaculty of Engineering, University of PeradeniyaThe Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya is one of the eight academic faculties at the university. It is the oldest engineering faculty in Sri Lanka...
. He was the leader of the Peradeniya AC (Action Committee) in 1985, a JVP Central Committee Member and its Kurunegala DistrictKurunegalaKurunegala , is the capital of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was also an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 13th century. The town itself is a busy commercial and a transport hub...
leader. Gunaratnam was abducted in December 1989, detained, tortured and killed at Wehera, Kurunegala. - Ravindra Mudalige - Former convener of the IUSF.
- Chameera Koswatta - Former convener of the IUSF, JVP Chief Ministerial candidate for Sabaragamuwa ProvinceSabaragamuwa ProvinceSabaragamuwa, is a province of Sri Lanka, and contains two main cities: Ratnapura and Kegalle. Sabaragamuwa University is in Belihuloya. It is named after its former indigenous inhabitants, namely the Sabara, an indic term for hunter gatherer tribes, a term seldom used in ancient Sri...
at the provincial elections 2008. - Duminda Nagamuwa - Former convener of the IUSF (May 2004 to February 2008), drop-out of the Faculty of Science, University of PeradeniyaFaculty of Science, University of PeradeniyaFaculty of Science is one of the eight faculties in University of Peradeniya. It was established as the second Faculty of Science in Sri Lanka in 1961.-Overview:Faculty of Science is situated about half a kilometre from the Galaha Junction, Peradeniya...
and JVP Chief Ministerial candidate for Western ProvinceWestern Province, Sri LankaThe Western Province is the most densely populated province of Sri Lanka. It is home to the legislative capital Sri Jayawardenapura as well to Colombo, the nation's administrative and business center.-Districts:Basnahira is divided into 3 districts:...
at the provincial elections 2009. - Udul Premaratne - Former convener of the IUSF (February 2008 to January 2011), drop-out of the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of PeradeniyaFaculty of Dental Sciences, University of PeradeniyaFaculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya is one of the eight faculties of University of Peradeniya and the only institution that trains dental surgeons in Sri Lanka...
. - Sanjeewa Bandara - Present convener of the IUSF. A student of University of RuhunaUniversity of RuhunaThe University of Ruhuna is a university in Matara, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1978 and is organized in seven faculties. The faculties of Engineering and Medicine are in Galle.-History:...
.
Criticism
Conduct of the student union has drawn much criticism in media and university administrations. As a result, University of JaffnaUniversity of Jaffna
Jaffna University is a public university in the city of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.- Overview :Jaffna University has four campuses; Thirunelveli, Marathanamadam, Kaithady and Vavuniya...
banned IUSF from entering to the university premises in June 2010. Previously, University of Colombo
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
and University of Moratuwa
University of Moratuwa
The University of Moratuwa, located on the banks of the Bolgoda Lake in Katubedda, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, is a technological university in Sri Lanka. Apart from the academics including the undergraduate and postgraduate studies, university of Moratuwa presents a variety of social and cultural...
have taken steps to ban the student group from the university. IUSF has been accused of the murder of Samantha Vithanage
Samantha Vithanage
Ovitigala Vithanage Samantha aka Samantha Vithanage was a third year Management student of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, pioneered an anti-ragging campaign, who was killed on 7 November 2002 while in a discussion to stop the brutal practice of ragging in the faculty...
, a third year Management student of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is one of the Universities in Sri Lanka. It is located in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, near Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the capital city of Sri Lanka...
, who pioneered an anti-ragging campaign in the university.
Strikes
IUSF admits that it uses strikes as the primary method to meet their demands as it sees no other plausible way. This has raised number of issues regarding the student discipline. Boycotting lectures has caused delays in student graduation time and cancellation of studentships in number of occasions.Ragging
IUSF is also criticized for not being able to take necessary action to prevent raggingRagging in Sri Lanka
Ragging is a verbal, physical or psychological abuse on newcomers to educational institutions. It is similar to the American phenomenon known as hazing. Sri Lanka is said to be its worst affected country in the world.-History:...
in Sri Lankan universities. Instead, rival groups such as International Students for Social Equality have suggested that IUSF uses ragging as a means of attracting a following among more backward students. At the beginning, ragging served as a social equalizer in the universities. But with the emergence of JVP-backed student unions such as IUSF, ragging has served primarily to ensure the continuing domination of JVP political power within the universities, academics suggest.
Political intolerance
Violence inside universities has steadily increased due to political intolerance. IUSF has been accused for obstructing and engineering clashes with rival political groups inside universities. In 2009, Prof.Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
Nalin de Silva
Nalin de Silva
Nalin de Silva is a Sri Lankan theoretical physicist, philosopher and a political analyst. He is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and the Dean of the faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.Prof...
- Dean of the faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya
University of Kelaniya
The University of Kelaniya is a state university of Sri Lanka. Situated just outside the municipal limits of Colombo, in the ancient and historic city of Kelaniya, the University has two major campuses, seven locations, six faculties and four institutions....
- complained that pro-JVP IUSF students have threatened him with death for not agreeing to their political ideologies.
Picketings
Picketing is another form of protest employed by IUSF to meet their demands. Picketings around Lipton Circus, MaradanaMaradana
Maradana is a suburb of Colombo city, Sri Lanka. Maradana is the site of Maradana Railway Station, one of the primary railway hubs in the country, serving intercity rail and commuter rail. Maradana also has many railway yards and running sheds...
and the country's busiest urbs has become common in the recent times. These picketings usually cause traffic jams and chaos in the city with police using tear gas and water cannon
Water cannon
A water cannon is a device that shoots a high-pressure stream of water. Typically, a water cannon can deliver a large volume of water, often over dozens of metres / hundreds of feet. They are used in firefighting and riot control. Most water cannon fall under the category of a fire...
s to disperse the gathering. This has resulted in public inconvenience regularly.