Universities, way for ethnic harmony - President

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Universities will pave the way for ethnic harmony and peace, while creating a better environment for mutual relationship among all ethnic groups, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President was addressing the gathering at the South Eastern University, Oluvil after opening the newly constructed Engineering Faculty.

President Rajapaksa said the friendly and brotherly behaviour of students belonging to all ethnic groups in the South Eastern University is an example to the country's other universities.

"Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim undergraduates engage in academic activities in a friendly manner in the university without considering ethnic, religious, language or other differences," the President said.

President Rajapaksa said considering the future requirement of the developing country, more engineers will be needed.

The government planned to produce more engineers by commencing two new Engineering Faculties in two separate universities. One Engineering Faculty was started at the South Eastern University while the other will be started at the Jaffna University. These two new Engineering Faculties together with the other Engineering Faculties, will produce engineers, he said.

The university education needs changes in accordance with the trends in the world context, the President said. "The changes should be qualitative and result oriented. New undergraduate courses should be introduced in accordance with the requirements of the country and the future world. The degree holder should be employable," President Rajapkasa said.

He said universities with facilities and the millions of government allocations to universities, have to be well utilised to create an effective and creative graduate armed with knowledge and skills.

"Practical and theoretical knowledge will help qualitative development," President Rajapaksa said.

The graduate should be job oriented and equipped to take up any challenge in the competitive environment, the President said. He said education should provide people with a winning mentality.

"After liberating the country from terrorism, the government took steps to uplift university education to meet the present day needs," the President said.

He said a graduate should be a person of quality, equipped with multiple skills and capable of taking the country forward. "The academic staff should also be dedicated to create a capable student community enriched with knowledge and skills," President Rajapaksa said.