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Inter University Students' Federation

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Inter-University Students' Federation (Sinhala: අන්තර් විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයීය ශිෂ්‍ය බලමණ්ඩලය, romanized: Anthar Vishvavidyaleeya Shishya Balamandalaya) is a confederation of students' unions across Sri Lanka.[6][7] Around 70 students' unions[8] are affiliated with the confederation, accounting for more than 95% of all higher and further education unions in Sri Lanka.[9] The IUSF is the organization that is given leadership to whole university students in Sri Lanka.[10] It is the largest student organization in Sri Lanka to date. It represents the voice of student councils and action committees in 15 higher education institutes including all major universities and technical colleges in Sri Lanka.[11]

Inter-University Students' Federation
අන්තර් විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයීය ශිෂ්‍ය බලමණ්ඩලය
பல்கலைக்கழகங்களுக்கு இடையிலான மாணவர் கூட்டமைப்பு
AbbreviationIUSF
Formation18 June 1969
TypeUmbrella body of Students Unions[1]
Legal statusActive[a]
PurposeUnconditional fight for oppressed people within the system
Pro-free education and anti-privatization of education
HeadquartersUniversity of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila
Membership
11 university level students' unions
~70 faculty level students' unions
Official language
English
Sinhala
Tamil
Convener
Madhushan Chandrajith [3]
SubsidiariesInter Medical Faculty Students' Action Committee, University Bhikku Federation[4]
AffiliationsFrontline Socialist Party (2012–present)[5]
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (1976–2012)
Volunteers
~150,000
Websitewww.iusfsl.com

Overview

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The IUSF consists of several student unions representing main universities and action committees of several universities across Sri Lanka.[12][13] The sole official of the union is known as the convener. The convener carries out all administrative and legal work on behalf of the union.[14]

The Inter University Bhikku Federation is an organization affiliated with the IUSF.[15]

Members

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History

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Establishment

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The Inter-University Student Federation was established on 18 June 1969 at the University of Peradeniya. The first discussion was held at Ramanathan Hall, University of Peradeniya. It was financed by Vice Chancellor Prof. E. O. E. Pereira. Malcolm Wijesinghe of the Peradeniya University Students' Union was the first convener of the IUSF. He was also the President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party's Progressive Students Union.

The IUSF became formally active in the mid-70s. This eventually culminated in the shooting and death of Rohana Weerasuriya by the police on November 12, 1976, at the University of Peradeniya. With the assassination of Weerasuriya, student groups loyal to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) were able to gain control of the IUSF, which had previously been in the possession of the Ceylon National Students' Union of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka since 1972. The JVP Socialist Students Union's control over the IUSF lasted from 1976 to 2012.

Today, about 10 members of the JVP Socialist Students' Union and about 35 members of the Frontline Socialist Party's Revolutionary Students' Union are engaged in politics full time in universities.[17][18] With a formation of a leftist mass movement, Shantha Bandara, a student in the science faculty of University of Peradeniya, was elected as its convener after reforms in 1977.[19] The IUSF was officially recognized by the government on July 8, 1988, after its inception in 1969. Accordingly, the first official discussion was held on 23 July 1988, with the then-incumbent Minister of Higher Education, Abdul Cader Shahul Hameed, at the University Grants Commission in Sri Lanka.

Protests and campaigns

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In recent times, most of its campaigns have been against the planned privatization of education institutions, claiming these plans were a threat to the free education of Sri Lanka which has existed in the country since 1945.[20]

Notable leaders

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Criticism

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Conduct of the student union has drawn much controversy in media and university administrations. The University of Jaffna banned the IUSF from entering university premises in June 2010,[30] and other universities such as the University of Colombo and University of Moratuwa have taken steps to ban the student group from their universities in the past.

Strikes

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The IUSF admitted to using strikes as its primary method to meet their demands, as it sees "no other plausible way".[31] This has raised number of issues regarding the student discipline. Boycotting lectures has caused delays in student graduation time and cancellation of studentships on a number of occasions.[32]

Ragging

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Further information: Ragging in Sri Lanka

The IUSF has also been criticized for not taking necessary action against ragging in Sri Lankan universities. Rival groups such as International Students for Social Equality have alleged that the IUSF itself uses ragging as a means of threatening new members and attracting a following among more backward students.[33] Initially, senior students claimed that ragging served as a social equalizer in the universities, but with the emergence of JVP-backed student unions such as the IUSF, ragging has served primarily to ensure the continuing domination of JVP political power within universities, according to academics.[34]

The 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.[35]

Political intolerance

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Violence in universities has steadily increased due to political intolerance. The IUSF has been accused of obstructing and engineering clashes with rival political groups inside universities.[36][37] In 2009, Prof. Nalin de Silva – Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya – complained that pro-JVP IUSF students have sent him death threats for not agreeing to their political ideologies.[38]

Picketing

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Picketing is another form of protest employed by the IUSF to meet their demands by forcing the government. The purpose of most of those protests refer to the protection of the "Free Education System" and protecting students' rights. Picketings around Lipton Circus, Maradana and the country's busiest suburbs have become common in recent times. These picketings usually cause traffic jams and chaos in cities, with police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse gatherings, and generally cause public inconvenience.[39][40][41]

References

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  1. ^ Asian Bulletin – Volume 14, Issues 2–12 – Page 49
  2. ^ Heingo. "Ramifications of banning Political parties and organisations". dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  3. ^ "IUSF appoints new convenor replacing Wasantha Mudalige - Breaking News | Daily Mirror".
  4. ^ Chandraprema, Candauda A. Sri Lanka, the years of terror: the JVP insurrection, 1987–1989. Lake House Bookshop, 1991.
  5. ^ "Authorities and students in tug of war over Uni student's death". www.sundaytimes.lk.
  6. ^ Gileva, Sofya. "Hello, Everyone! We are Glad to Welcome You on the Summer Session of Pilgrim!." ‘Cadjan–Kiduhu’. SensePublishers, 2014. 187–189.
  7. ^ Chandraprema, Candauda A. Sri Lanka, the years of terror: the JVP insurrection, 1987–1989. Lake House Bookshop, 1991.Chandraprema, Candauda A. Sri Lanka, the years of terror: the JVP insurrection, 1987–1989. Lake House Bookshop, 1991.
  8. ^ Alagappa, Muthiah. Civil society and political change in Asia: expanding and contracting democratic space. Stanford University Press, 2004.
  9. ^ "Sri Lanka University students union Leader (IUSF) Sanjeewa Bandara Released". Lanka University News. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  10. ^ "About us". Inter University Students Federation. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  11. ^ Wijesinghe, Kithsiri (27 September 2012). "'Sugar coated reforms intend to make education a commodity'". JDS. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  12. ^ Gunaratna, Rohan. Sri Lanka, a Lost Revolution?: The Inside Story of the JVP. Institute of Fundamental Studies, 1990.
  13. ^ "University Students' Union to be Banned – Sri Lanka". lankauniversity. 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  14. ^ a b "USF Convener Lahiru Weerasekara arrested". adaderana. 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Inter-University Bhikku Balamandalaya Convenor Ven Thampitiya Sugathananda and Inter University Students Federation Convenor Lahiru Weerasekera Arrested". dbsjeyaraj. 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  16. ^ a b Inter Universities Student's Federation Archived March 31, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "අන්තරේ කැඳවුම්කරුවන්ගේ පුරාවතින්". www.lankadeepa.lk.
  18. ^ Guṇavardhana, Raṇavīra, ed. More Open Than Usual?: An Assessment of the Experiment in University Education at Peradeniya and Its Antecedents. university of Peradeniya, 1992.
  19. ^ "Our History". Inter University Students' Federation. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  20. ^ "Protests over an opening of private Medical Faculty". Sri Lanka Guardian. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  21. ^ Seneviratne, Malinda (2001). "Transcripts from the campaign trail, November is for remembering". The Island. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  22. ^ "Creators and destroyers of Peradeniya". The Island. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  23. ^ Fernando, Manjula (26 March 2004). "Six injured in varsity clash". Daily News. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  24. ^ "JVP accused of inciting violence". BBC Sinhala. 11 August 2008. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  25. ^ Dissanayake, Chathuri; Kaviratne, Isuri (8 July 2007). "Universities in turmoil with clashes and staff shortages". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  26. ^ "Udul Premaratne is no more a university undergraduate". LankaPuvath. 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  27. ^ Weerasekara-is-the-new-convener-of-iusf "Sanjeewa Bandara is the new convener of IUSF". LankaTruth. 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  28. ^ "Najith Indika New Convener of Inter University Students' Federation IUSF". Lanka University News. 9 February 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023.
  29. ^ Farzan, Zulfick (18 August 2022). "IUSF Convener Wasantha Mudalige arrested". Newsfirst. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  30. ^ Somachandran, Subash (29 June 2010). "SL bans student group from Jaffna campus". South Asian Tribune. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  31. ^ Premaratne, Udul; Sameera, Waruna (24 August 2008). "Rational politicisation acceptable to all". The Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  32. ^ Ruberu, Ranjit (2003). "Indiscipline in Sri Lanka universities". Tamil Canadian. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  33. ^ Fernando, Kapila (19 April 2010). "Sri Lankan government revives law to suppress student protests". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  34. ^ Hennayake, Shantha K. (20 November 2008). "The Fundamental Threat to Sri Lankan University Education". Asian Tribune. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  35. ^ Fernando, Manjula (12 November 2002). "PM orders report on murder of J'pura student". Daily News. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  36. ^ Kaviratne, Yasasmin (2009). "Kelaniya clash: Dispute over who attacked whom". Pictures by Devapriya, Athula. The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  37. ^ Kuruwita, Rathindra (14 June 2009). "Kelaniya University: Students see sinister plan behind clash". The Nation. Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  38. ^ Edirisinghe, Dasun (7 February 2009). "JVP undergrads threatened me with death – Prof Nalin" (PDF). The Island. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  39. ^ Ferdinando, Shamindra (24 August 2007). "Police warn of crackdown as JVP slams Govt. over suppression of students' rights". The Island. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  40. ^ "Police beat back student demo". LankaNewspapers. 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  41. ^ "Sri Lankan Police attacks to undergraduates again". Sri Lanka Guardian. 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  1. ^ All students' unions affiliated with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna were banned in 1988 until the ban was lifted in 1990.[2]
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