Sri Lankan government minister Champika Ranawaka warned that clashes at Jaffna University on the weekend may lead to “new Prabhakarans” as he called for prosecutions against those involved.
Colombo Telegraph quoted the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development as stating that Tamil students faced no discrimination across the island, whilst Sinhala students were under threat in Jaffna. Clashes erupted on Saturday over attempts by Sinhala students to include a Sinhalese Kandyan dance performance for the first time at a traditional welcome event.
“There is a deeper meaning to this incident,” said the minister. “This is not just an assault on students, this is outright racism.”
Warning that “space must not be given for new Prabhakaran’s to be born,” the minister went on to call for prosecutions against those involved. “We must nip this at the bud, we must defeat these elements. The law must apply to each and every culprit who were behind the assault,” he added.
“These racist and fascist elements must be defeated,” he added, stating that “if they want it to be an all Tamil university, then it should be shut down.”
“Are they trying to say that the Jaffna University is only for Tamil students?,” the minister questioned. “Does this mean that Sinhala and Muslim students can’t go and study there?”
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