May 22, Colombo: The vice-chancellors of Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura and Kelaniya universities have requested the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles to strengthen the security at their respective universities.

The Vice-Chancellors have requested the Minister to further increase security especially near universities and student hostels and also to increase night patrols near universities.

Minister of Public Security Mr. Tiran Alles had called vice chancellors and a group of professors to the ministry on the 16th, 17th and 18th of May, to discuss the security situation of these universities.

Public Security Ministry Secretary Viyani Gunathilake, Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne and Western Provincial Deputy Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon and other officials also participated in the meetings.

On May 16th, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Senior Professor H.D. Karunaratne, along with a group of senior professors met the Minister of Public Security and discussed the problems faced by the students of Colombo University at length.

Mr. Tiran Alles inquired about the current security situation of the students of the University of Colombo and the Vice-Chancellor made a request to strengthen the security near the student dormitories. Accordingly, the minister ordered the Inspector General of Police to increase night patrols near Colombo University.

Speaking further, the Vice-Chancellor said that there has been an increase in thefts within the university premises.

The minister discussed the matter at length and ordered the Inspector General of Police to increase patrols near the university. Senior officials including the Minister and the Inspector General of Police pointed out the measures to be taken to strengthen security to combat theft in universities.

On the 17th, the minister also met a group of lecturers including the Vice Chancellor Professor Upul Subasinghe of Sri Jayewardenepura University and they also have requested to strengthen the security of the students.

The Vice-Chancellor of Sri Jayewardenepura University also requested to increase the security near the female students' dormitories. The minister also ordered to increase the number of security patrols near the university. The Vice-Chancellor also stated that university students are more interested in education than before.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, Professor Mrs. Nilanthi De Silva, and a group of professors met with the Minister of Public Security on the 18th and the safety of the students of the University was discussed.

Minister Alles made an inquiry about students using drugs and the Vice-Chancellor said that it was possible to eliminate ice drugs from the university.

The Vice-Chancellor also mentioned that there is an increase in thefts in the university premises and requested to strengthen the security near the female student dormitories of Kelaniya University. Accordingly, the Minister ordered the Inspector General of Police to increase security near the student dormitories.