Govt spends much for Bhikkhu education says SB

The expenditure borne by the Higher Education Ministry on a Bhikkhu student entering the Buddhashrawaka University and the Buddhist and Pali University is almost treble that of the expenditure borne on a Bhikkhu student entering traditional universities such as Colombo and Kelaniya Universities, said Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake.

The minister disclosed this addressing the inaugural ceremony of a Bhikkhu Attitude Development and Training programme at Madanwaka Maha Piriven Viharaya, Hanguranketha recently.

The programme jointly organised by the Higher Education Ministry, Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka Bhikkhu Vidyalaya and the Homagama Buddhist and Pali University will continue until August 25.

Minister Dissanayake said: " We spend nearly Rs 90,000 to Rs 100,000 on a student admitted to a University Arts Faculty. Nearly Rs 300,000 is spent on a medical student and about Rs 350,000 on a dental student.

But the money spent on a bhikku student entering the Buddhashrawaka University or the Buddhist or Pali University is almost thrice this amount.

"You are a very lucky batch of Bhikkhu students because you are the maiden batch of students entering the Buddhashrawaka University after its name was changed to Sri Lanka Bhikkhu University by amending the Buddha Sravaka Dharma Petaya Act."

The minister who recalled that the sixth and seventh centuries (AD) saw the birth of great philosophers said the greatest of them all was the Buddha.

"Our lives have been fashioned on the Buddhist doctrine. In this situation, the maha sangha who are Buddha putras rendered a noble service to religion and the society.

The government has now set up separate universities and provided all facilities for the maha sangha to continue their good work."

Dissanayake who described the 1987 - 1989 period as the worst period of terror in this country, said it was during that time the LTTE took control of the universities in the North and the JVP took control of the universities in the South through its Student Union.

"We have now created a programme to enable Vice Chancellors and Dons to take full control of the administration of universities with much difficulty," Minister Dissanayake said.