Sri Lankan Professor Misguided Kashmiri Youth To Do Anti-India Research

The university issued notice to Perera and his PhD student about the controversial research proposal and sought clarification as per the media reports.. The student was asked to provide an explanation related to his controversial conversation with quite famous American linguist Noam Chomsky, where the student used statements like “I am from Indian-Occupied Kashmir, Prime Minister is an apologist of Israeli brutalities, including others.” These statements made in the video violate the Proctorial committee rule, SAARC Intergovernmental Agreement, Rules, Regulations and Bye-Laws, including the Headquarters Agreement between the University and the Host Country, "Creating ill will or intolerance on religious, national, communal or political grounds" and the SAARC Charter” as notice further states.

The shared research proposal with the media house titled “Protracted Conflict, Political Complexity and Collective Memory: An Ethnography of Urban Kashmir.” reveals that the student was investigating questions like “How does Kashmir’s Tehreek resonate, borrow and empathise with the Palestinian Intifada? What does Shahadah (martyrdom) in Kashmir memorialise? Does it mark spatial resistance and insecurity?” A key stakeholder from the university, on the condition of anonymity, said, “ The research proposal and questions are loaded with prejudice and presumptions. It does subtle glorification and validation of terrorism in Kashmir and problematic comparison of India’s integral state, Jammu & Kashmir, with Israel in Palestine. It seems like Professor Perera was more interested in promoting his anti-India agenda in the name of academic research, making innocent Kashmiri youth his scapegoat.”

It’s worth noting that previously, alumni of the Sociology Department, SAU, have criticised Perera allegedly for spreading misinformation in media, irregularity, dereliction of duties as a teacher and research supervisor, abuse of power, sexual harassment and suppression of academic freedom. Last month, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Kshenuka Senewiratne also criticised Perera for providing incomplete information concerning an ongoing issue to the Sri Lankan High Commission. Upon receiving the full details, she condemned Perera for concealing facts and withdrew the concerns she had raised with the university regarding Perera's case, according to media reports.