No privatisation of universities

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Irangika Range

COLOMBO: The Government has not taken a policy decision to privatise the university system, Higher Education Minister Prof. Wishwa Warnapala said yesterday.

Minister Warnapala said the SLFP and the Government were committed to protect free education.

Addressing the weekly SLFP news briefing, the Minister said some parties had given the impression that all the universities were unstable. This was a wrong opinion.

“The Government is taking all measures to develop universities. We are introducing a development-oriented higher education policy. We will provide infrastructure and material facilities to students. We need time to rectify these issues,” he said.

He said the SLFP would take all possible action to protect individual freedom. There were some occasions when the media had violated the privacy of various people. “We request the media to protect the freedom and privacy of individuals.”

“The SLFP has a historical foundation. Even though some people try to create problems within the party, we will be able to overcome hardships due to stability. We have a very powerful leadership which has been accepted by the majority in the country,” he said.