• In response, State Higher Edu Min. Dr. Raghavan queries The Daily Morning on no. of unis/students  

The Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) has urged the relevant authorities to make the related regulations within the university system flexible so as to allow students to engage in part-time jobs without disruptions in view of the acute financial issues that they face in the prevailing economic situation. While there is a tendency for university students to resort to part-time jobs at present, the IUSF stated that certain regulations within the university system have hindered such solutions.

A male student of the University of Ruhuna had posted on social media platforms about an incident where the security personnel did not allow him to enter the Eliyakanda dormitory of the University after returning from a part-time job at a stall in Matara, at around 3 a.m. The student named Dakshina Chathuranga remarked on Facebook that even though he could have jumped over the wall, he did not do so as such a move would result in him being suspended from the University.

Speaking to The Daily Morning on the matter, the IUSF Convenor Madushan Chandrajith said that there is a tendency for many university students to resort to part-time jobs as they are suffering various financial issues in the current situation. "In this situation, it is a well known fact that parents are unable to finance their children. They have had to limit the expenditure on children. As a result, a need arises for students to earn some income. That is why most university students tend to have part-time jobs. This situation can be seen particularly in the universities in and around Colombo." Remarking on the incident of a student being denied entry to the hostel by the security personnel of the Ruhuna University, he said: "There are regulations regarding times during which students can leave and enter universities. Despite such regulations, there is no issue for male students to go out at any time. Female students should come back to hostels before 7:30 p.m. If they are unable to return by that time, a pass should be obtained before 7:30 p.m., and even with the pass, they can stay out only until 10.30 p.m. However, the incident at the said University is somewhat strange as it is a male student who has not been allowed to enter the hostel premises."

While university students whose parents are not public servants are provided Rs. 5,000 under the Mahapola Scholarship, those whose parents are public servants are provided an allowance of Rs. 4,000 per month. Chandrajith said that a student should have at least Rs. 30,000 to survive a month, including for expenditure on food, stationery, transportation, medical treatment and sanitary items. "Previously, the universities' canteens were provided with a monthly allowance by the Government, but, it has been curtailed in the current situation. As a result, the prices of food at canteens have skyrocketed. A student has to spend a minimum of Rs. 12,000 per month only on food," he explained.

Speaking further, he said that while the Government has failed to provide university students with adequate provisions, nor has it introduced flexible policies that enable students to earn some income by engaging in part-time jobs as in other parts of the world. "The Government itself has acknowledged that the Mahapola allowance of Rs. 5,000 is not sufficient in this situation. Even that is not given on time, and there are students who have not received it for months. That is why we try to earn some income, but the university administrations are blocking the way for it citing various regulations that are not practical. The incident at the Ruhuna University is a prime example of such."

When the situation and circumstances described by the IUSF along with their request were relayed to and questioned from him, the State Minister of Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan queried The Daily Morning as to how many State universities (The Daily Morning gave him the answer), and university students are there (The Daily Morning does not know the exact number of undergraduates), and said: "When you ask this question, you must have some fundamental idea about that question that you are posing to me. I will say very kindly; bring your facts, and then we'll sit down for a proper interview. That will be best for both you and me. That is the way to go about this professionally."

There are currently 17 State universities in Sri Lanka, which are established under the authority of the University Grants Commission, and the Universities Act, No.16 of 1978, with, it is learnt, nearly 150,000 students.