More facilities for universities

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed State Revenue Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera to allocate more funds for the education and welfare of university students.

He gave these instructions during a meeting with representatives of the Sri Lanka Nidahas Students Union over the weekend.

President Rajapaksa urged the officials to consider immediate measures for addressing human resources issues, providing hostel facilities, incentives for university staff outside Colombo, developing libraries and solving other crises in universities.

The President said all these shortcomings will be rectified in due course. He also pointed out the need for tailoring university curricula to suit the requirements of the job market here and abroad.

He stressed that politics should not be part of university life although various elements were trying to use university students to achieve their agendas.

The students expressed their fullest support to the Government’s efforts to develop education and curb LTTE terrorism.