(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –President Ranil Wickramasinghe said that the delay in the Sri Lankan university system at the beginning of studies will be avoided giving the opportunity for the students to complete their studies within the stipulated duration.
The President made this observation during a meeting held with the prefects of Royal College, Colombo at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (22).
Head Prefect of Royal College Kaveesha Rathnayake and the prefects of the college participated in this meeting.
The affairs of the college as well as the conditions of the country’s education sector were discussed here and the President answered the questions raised by the students about the measures taken by the government for the advancement of the education sector.
The President made queries from the prefects on the university education where the students brought the focus of the President to the vast difference between the duration to complete a degree in a foreign higher education institute and in a local university.
Agreeing with the students, the President assured that remedial action would be taken soon in near future.
President Wickremesinghe also emphasized the value of education in a local university over foreign education. He said the government has taken many steps to expand the educational opportunities for students who have completed their school education and qualified for higher education. He added that measures have been taken to establish several new universities in Kurunegala and Batticaloa.
The President also mentioned that the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Colombo would be set up as a separate campus, while the National School of Business Management (NSBM) and the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) would be upgraded as national universities.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe querying the students on the issue of ragging at universities said although a large number of students are admitted to universities from Colombo schools such as Royal College, Thurstan College, Ananda College and D. S. Senanayake College every year, it seemed that they turn a blind eye when such ragging incidents happen.
The President also pointed out that the students of those universities have a responsibility to bring ragging in universities to an end and the head prefects of those schools could perform their roles while in school.
The President further said that university education is very pleasant but the situation of students suffering from physical and mental stress has increased due to ragging at universities and emphasized that he would take measures to solve the problem.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe also appreciated the role played by the Prefects’ Council of the Royal College in the development of the school and its reputation.
Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Rathnayake also participated in the event.
