Improvements in university infrastructure

The Education Ministry is to take urgent steps to improve and enhance the hostel, lecture hall and laboratory facilities at universities in view of the increased intake of students to these institutions in the 2005/2006 academic year. Lack of residential facilities in particular had become a burning problem in universities consequent to the higher intake of students during the present academic year.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who paid urgent attention to this problem in her capacity as Education Minister, submitted a Cabinet memorandum to develop hostel facilities in universities along with a lecture hall and laboratory facilities on April 6 and it was approved by the Cabinet, an Education Ministry release yesterday.

The release said accordingly the following building and development program have been approved by the Cabinet stated.

The estimates for building the Hettiawatte and Bhikkhu hostels of the Kelaniya University and the second stage of the Moratuwa University new student hostel to be increased from Rs. 177 million to Rs. 272 million and handover the consultancy services to the State Engineering Corporation.

To increase the estimates for building a residential hall at the Gampaha Wickramaarachchi Ayurvedic Institute from the proposed Rs. 15 million to Rs. 24 million, allocate Rs. 25 million for its women hostel and handover the consultancy services to the State Engineering Corporation.

Allocate Rs. 78 million for building a new students hostel at the Raja Rata University and Rs. 26 million for agriculture students at Puliyankulama and handover consultancy services to the State Engineering Corporation and acquires the public department land at Mihintale and 40 houses to the Raja Rata University.

To increase the estimates for the Elikanda hostel of the Ruhuna University from Rs. 73.9 million to Rs. 116 million and estimates for the Wellamadama women's hostel from Rs. 85.5 million to Rs. 109 million.

To increase the estimates for building hostels at the Vavuniya Campus of the Jaffna University from Rs. 56.5 million to Rs. 108.5 million; and.

Increase the estimates for building the Hettiawatta hostel of the Kelaniya University from Rs. 62.5 million to Rs. 75 million and provide Rs. 40 million for completing the Bhikkhu hostel.