Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri has announced plans to hold an anti-IMF meeting at the University of Colombo, issuing a bold challenge to authorities by daring them to ban the event. He made the declaration through a post on his social media account, signaling his continued opposition to the International Monetary Fund’s policies and their implications for Sri Lanka.
In his post, Dr. Dewasiri referenced a prior incident where a lecture he planned at the University of Peradeniya was canceled, allegedly due to significant government interference. He criticized the move as an encroachment on academic freedom and the right to express diverse opinions.
“The right to express opinions in universities must be upheld without compromise,” Dr. Dewasiri stated, emphasizing the importance of preserving intellectual discourse and academic integrity in Sri Lanka’s higher education institutions.
The proposed anti-IMF meeting at the University of Colombo is expected to draw attention to Dr. Dewasiri’s stance against international financial interventions and their impact on national sovereignty. It also raises questions about the balance between freedom of expression and government control in public universities.
The challenge posed by Dr. Dewasiri has sparked discussions among academics, students, and political observers, with many awaiting the government’s response to his defiant declaration.
