Contrary assurance
Sunday, 3 May 2015Contrary assurance
by Husna Inayathullah
As the death, injured and displaced toll of the massive earthquake in Nepal continues to climb, the Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Nepal, W.M. Seneviratne has assured no Sri Lankans have been affected in the devasted areas.
At present 120 Sri Lankan students are studying at the Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, six at Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel and eight at Tribhuvan University, Kiritipur.
Assistant Director of Foreign Affairs who co-ordinates operation rooms at the Disaster Management for the earthquake, U. Ahamed Razee said, “The road journey is six hours from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Students at the Manipal University had not been affected by the earthquake, those in the Kathmandu and Tribhuvan Universities have been affected but bore no physical injuries.
The Dean of the University of Manipal, Brig. Dr. B.M. Nagpal has cautioned the students not to panic but accustom themselves to face disasters. The university is functioning and the lectures are conducted as usual.”
He said the Dean of the University of Manipal had a meeting with the students to discuss the issue and has pursuaded the students to stay back to complete the syllabus and sit for the final examination.
President of the Manipal University Parents Association, Dr. Pradeep de Silva said, “The students at the Manipal University are not affected by the catastrophe. The Dean of the University does not want the media to speak to their students on this issue. They are attending lectures as usual” he said.
“Most of the newspapers and television channels give false information that our students are affected and that they are returning to Sri Lanka.
It is a pity that they spread false news. Some students come back to Sri Lanka due to personal reasons and not due to the quake. Those who returned to Sri Lanka before the quake are unable to go back to Nepal”, he said.
The story that the students were inconvenienced due to the tremors and spent two nights at the sports ground opposite the university is a myth.
He said the group of 25 students of the under 14 women’s football team returned to Sri Lanka on April 28, by the Sri Lanka Air Force C130 aircraft. None of the Sri Lankan students of the Manipal Medical College, returned.
According to the Ministry of Higher Education no scholarships are awarded to Sri Lankan students to Universities in Nepal at present. Most of the Sri Lankan students studying in Nepal are private students.
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