Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka has said that Minister of Higher Education SB Dissanayake seems to be opening way for another student uprising with his speeches and action.

He said this yesterday evening in response to a question posted in his Q&A session #AskChampika on Twitter. The session took place both on Facebook and Twitter and started at 7pm yesterday.

A Twitter user Kaveendra Randeera @Kaveendra1st asked the question if Minister SB Dissanayake’s policy of suppression of university students was correct. In reply Champika Ranawaka said through his Twitter handle @pcranawaka that “In my mind, S.B. Dissanayake’s style of speech and action opens way for another student uprising.”

In response, Randeera has posed the question as to why the president has given the Higher Education Ministry to such a person. But this question was not answered.

Minister Dissanayaka has been known for his vocal condemnation of students. One defining moment came on October 5, when he ran into a confrontation with students of University of Sabaragamuwa. Dissanayake said he acted with great patience and self-restraint as this was the time of elections.

“Otherwise I know how to deal with situations like this. If not for elections we would have treated them ‘better’. We are not afraid of students protesting in huts. This is a strong government and this cannot be shaken up by hut-dwellers,” the Minister said in a boisterous tone speaking to a group of students of the University of Sabaragamuwa on that day.