The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) has announced that it will press ahead with protest action commencing from today (19) until the University Grants Commission (UGC) withdraws its latest directive regarding the supervision of student activities.
Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (18), IUSF Convenor Sasindu Perera stated the Federation is organising a protest in Colombo today to demand the revocation of the newly implemented circular. According to Perera, while the IUSF previously held discussions with the UGC regarding the matter, the Commission failed to adequately address their concerns. He highlighted a contradiction between the UGC’s verbal assurances and the written circular. "The UGC Chairperson mentioned the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. academic hours are sufficient for lectures and questioned the need for numerous extracurricular activities, including university events," Perera recounted. "Although in the circular it is mentioned that it is a temporary enactment that expects to address the issue of ragging in universities, during the meeting, they (the UGC) indicated this would be a permanent enactment. What is said in the meeting contradicts what is stated in the circular itself."
Perera further noted that while the directive to cease all student activities by 10 p.m. is currently officially enforced only at the Kelaniya University, similar incidents have been reported elsewhere. "We have received reports that on Tuesday (17), a group of students from the Rajarata University were asked to leave the University premises after 10 p.m. Furthermore, an event at the Sri Jayewardenepura University was instructed to conclude before 10 p.m.," he added.
The enactment of the circular has sparked widespread protests from student unions across the country. At the Kelaniya University, the Students’ Union organised two consecutive days of protests on Monday (16) and Tuesday in front of the University premises. The action followed an announcement by the University authorities that all student activities within the premises must end by 10 p.m. Sources from the said Union confirmed that the agitation will continue until the administration reverses the regulations, adding that hostels will now be closed by 10 p.m., with no event preparations permitted beyond that hour. Meanwhile, the Rajarata University Students’ Union President, Yohan Kanishka told The Daily Morning yesterday the Union is currently consulting with the IUSF to determine future steps. "We are supporting the protest tomorrow," he added. In the Peradeniya University, the Students’ Union has scheduled a press conference to inform the public about the issue. Union President Adisha Nidukan explained to The Daily Morning yesterday that a major concern is the requirement mandating that all student activities - including rehearsals, preparatory work, and the events themselves - be supervised by a staff member or a University official. "It is not practical to find a supervisor for every single event," Nidukan said. "The Open University has issued a circular asking students to find a supervisor themselves. However, most staff members cannot commit to this because some university activities, including overnight events, require supervision at all hours."
The controversy stems from the UGC Circular Number 02/2026, enacted on 6 February of this year (2026), which directs that all student-organised university events be conducted under the supervision of a responsible university officer until further notice. The circular specifies that the supervising official must be present during rehearsals, preparations, and the event itself, including the setup of decorations. It prohibits holding any event within university premises without adhering to these instructions. This is following Supreme Court directives issued in a judgement concerning a case of ragging.
Moreover, the Federation of University Teachers' Associations shared its stance with The Daily Morning on Monday, saying that it plans to request the UGC to review the new circular, citing practical issues arising from its enactment, including that university students are adults and that supervising them is impractical.
Attempts to obtain a comment from the UGC were unsuccessful.