Colombo Uni. landscape to blend with beautified 'surrounds'

Chaminda Perera

The Colombo University has joined up with the Sri Lanka Army to transform the landscape of the university premises to suit the surrounding area which is being developed by the government under the Colombo beautification programme. According to Colombo University Vice Chancellor Dr. Kumara Hiriburegama, the entire area adjacent to the university has completely changed except the university.

"We have to bring that development to the university too," he said. Vice Chancellor Hiriburegama said the Colombo city is

being developed to international standards and this development should be extended to the university too.

The Vice Chancellor was speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Colombo University Alumni Association.

"We have to go with the developing world and the country's quest to become the knowledge hub of Asia is possible, " he said.

The Vice Chancellor added that the university hostels are being developed as an appalling situation prevails in hostels and the canteens. Dr. Hiriburegama said his first task is to bring the living conditions of the undergraduates to a standard level by developing hostels.

He said the Thelawala Hostel of the university would be developed to international standards for 600 girls.

"Lack of facilities for the students in hostels is the biggest problem. The girls come to the science faculty to use its toilets early in the morning," he said.

The Vice Chancellor said that all hostels in the university are highly underdeveloped and students cannot eat what is served at university canteens.

"We are talking of international standards, international symposia, foreign visits and tours but our students are suffering. Boys are suffering more than that. A pathetic situation prevails in the canteen, " he said.

Dr. Hiriburegama also said the media was being handled by some people in the wrong way . The dengue situation at the Colombo University has been highly exaggerated.