Ivan Amerasinghe

Receiving a basic degree or even a PhD is no reason to shun those who teach the Dhamma.  

Colombo University has for decades been the hunting ground for INGO and Marxist anti-Buddhist mercenaries. The international agencies and the Western Embassies have a permanent gravy distribution station in Colombo campus. Paragoda Hamuduruwo sings hosannas on Ven. Walpola Rahula Hamuduruwo as Vice Chancellor of Vidyalankara University. Actually Ven Rahula was the VC of Vidyodaya University. He left Vidyodaya in 1969 because of his disaffection with the political regime. He was the first Bhikkhu to become a Professor of a Western University as well as a revered scholar at Sorbonne University.  

It is said that his book Bhikshuvakage Urumaya (Heritage of the Bhikkhu) was a strong voice in the Buddhist Nationalist movement that led to the 1956 electoral victory of the SLFP under the banner of the Sangha, Weda, Guru, Govi, Kamkaru flag.   

Every year thousands of Sri Lankan applicants wait in the new students’ registration queue at British Universities. Of those, hundreds apply to Manchester University willing to pay between £20,000 (Rs. 5,364,631.87) to £47000 (Rs. 12,606,884.90) per annum for academic fees alone! They know the value of a British University degree. Their free educated compatriots in Sri Lanka revel in inhuman ragging of juniors while being unquestioning sycophants to the teachers in the hope of securing at least a 2^nd Upper degree. Hence the calamities one observes within our campuses. 

Shame on those arrogant youth who selectively shunned a Bhikkhu because of his yellow robes than any other lame excuse! 

Relevant comparisons between Manchester Uni and Colombo Uni are in the attachment

Differences between a First World University and a Third World University

The Arrogance of Free University Education in Sri Lanka

University of Manchester UK [established 1824]                                          

No. Students > 41000                                  

Ranked 27 in the world according to the QS World University Rankings® 2021

Motto: Cognitio Sapientia Humanitas, in Latin for ‘knowledge, wisdom and humanity’.

All students pay University Fees.

Sri Lankan students pay for Foundation year £20 -25000 and £24000 for Science and £47000 per annum for Clinical years in Medicine and Dentistry

Chancellor 

Lemn Sissay MBE. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemn_Sissay]

no formal higher or university education

author, broadcaster, poet.

Sissay is the illegitimate son of an Ethiopean woman immigrant to the UK in1966, brought up in foster care and then various care homes;

Honoured by Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and the Head of the Commonwealth.

Nominated by the General assembly, the Students Body and the superannuated staff.

Enthusiastically welcomed by the University academics, administrators and the Students’ Union representing 41000 students of the University

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

University of Colombo [established 1933]

No. of Students           11000

Ranked 1592 in the world according to the QS World University Rankings® 2021

Motto: बुद्धिः शर्वत्र भ्रजते (Buddhi Sarvathra Bhrajate), Sanskrit as Wisdom Enlightens”

All students have Free Education

Chancellor – Ven Muruththetuwe Ananda Nayaka Thero

Leader of a national health union.

Represents the Holy Triple Gem of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha” of the Sasanaya.

Teachers’ associations and Main Student’s union of University of Colombo objected the appointment of Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero as the Chancellor of the University of Colombo. Decided to show the displeasure of it in the Ceremonial Graduation 2019 of the University of Colombo.

Teachers’ associations and Main Student’s union pressured those graduating to boycott/refuse to receive the graduation certificates from the hands of the Buddhist Thero.