Medical faculty of the Sabaragamuwa university declared open amid protests

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The medical faculty of the University of Sabaragmuwa was vested with the students by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Hidella, Ratnapura. When the University Students opposed the visit of the Prime Minister, they were prevented from visiting the newly constructed Medical Faculty. A group of students attempted to travel to the medical faculty in Hidella from the Sabaragamuwa University in Belihuloya using buses. However, the Police intervened to stop these buses in Opanayake and inspect the students. The students were permitted to leave only after an inspection carried out for a period of one hour. Police used barricades to obstruct the buses at the entry route to the medical faculty at the Batuhena junction along the Ratnapura - Colombo main road. This led to a tense situation between police and protesting students. President of the student council of the Sabaragamuwa university said that they do not object to the opening of the medical faculty because they had won the faculty after a massive struggle. He noted that they have an issue with the Prime Minister using the opportunity to gain political mileage. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who arrived at the medical faculty amid the objection of the students declared open the new faculty. Addressing the gathering Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe noted that they have invested heavily as the national government and that no other Government had put in such a commitment. He questioned if this is what critics call a cutback?  He noted that there were plenty of people that doubted that they would be able to settle the country's massive loan payments and invest in development activities, however, the premier noted that even with such a large debt burden they have been able to improve the education and health sectors. Minister of Higher Education Rauff Hakeem was also present at the occasion.