Former Parliamentarian and senior Buddhist monk Omalpe Sobhtha Thera appreciated the act of Colombo University gradudates who refused to receive their degree certificates from Muruththettuwa Ananda Thera, Chancellor of the University.

At the annual convocation of the university, a number of students snubbed Ananda Thera on stage as an act of protest against his appointment.

Sobhitha Thera said that the graduates of the University of Colombo had displayed their courage and self-respect through this action and that the President and the Government should understand the message they had conveyed.

He said that although many people were silent when appointments were made on the basis of personal, political and kinship friends, the students of the University of Colombo had demonstrated their opposition.

Ven. Sobhitha Thera said that the whole country has been devastated due to the appointment of friends to important positions.