(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –There is a conspiracy to sabotage country’s State university system, Information & Communications Technology, Higher Education and Technology & Innovations Minister Dr.Bandula Gunawardane said.
Addressing the media yesterday at the Government Information Department, Minister Dr. Gunawardane said these conspirators are trying to attract Sri Lankan students to foreign universities by spreading rumours claiming that the government is going to privatize state universities including the Open University of Sri Lanka.
Commenting on recent protest marches by university students, Minister Dr.Gunawardane said that it is suspicious as to who was behind these protests since the government has already expressed its willingness to discuss all the issues faced by university students and provide practical solutions. As a result of these regular protests, most of the parents are afraid to send their children to State universities.
The Minister refuted the allegations levelled against the government claiming that the government is going to privatize the Open University of Sri Lanka and increase its course fee by 700 percent.
Minister Dr. Gunawardane also went on an inspection tour of the Open University of Sri Lanka in Nawala.
