'President upgraded higher education'

Nimal WIJESINGHE - Anuradhapura Additional district corr

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had upgraded the level of higher education in the country, said Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake.

Despite fighting a war against the LTTE, the President assisted by Higher Education Minister Wiswa Warnapala endeavoured a lot to commission the Faculty of Medicine of the Rajarata University in 2006, he said.

The Chief Minister made these comments at the foundation laying ceremony of the new clinical building of the Faculty of Medicine and allied science of the Rajarata University in the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital premises.

Amidst Seth Pirith chanting, the Chief Minister along with the University Grant Commission Chairman Professor Gamini Samaranayake, Rajarata University Vice Chancellor Professor K.A. Nandasena, Rajarata Medical Faculty Dean Professor Malani Udupihilla laid the foundation stones.

The proposed six-storeyed clinical building will cost the Government Rs 700 million. Once the building complex is completed, the fourth year medical students will get the opportunity of doing practicals under the supervision of medical consultants and experts.