PSC to make suitable recommendations for expansion of higher education in Sri Lanka

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to make suitable recommendations for the expansion of higher education opportunities in Sri Lanka has asked private higher education institutions to submit suitable recommendations regarding changes and developments to be made in future in the higher education sector.

This request was made when the PSC, Chaired by Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, met representatives of private higher education institutions in Parliament recently.

The contribution of non-government higher education institutes, and the opportunities available to make the sector more efficient were discussed at length during this meeting, Parliament’s Communications Department stated.

Representatives of non-government higher education institutions such as Nagananda Institute, SLINTE higher education institute, ISOFT Metro Campus, Saegis Campus, ICBT, Royal Institute, IChem were present at the Committee meeting, and the representatives at the Committee presented their views on the opportunities, obstacles and the way forward for the expansion of the said sector.

The Committee Chair requested the representatives to submit suitable recommendations in writing regarding the changes and developments to be made in future given the scope of the higher education sector.

The representatives pointed out that while there are opportunities to carry out innovations and new initiatives in the field of higher education, the legal provisions to take these forward are not sufficient. They also emphasised the need for a more flexible approach to facilitate the development of the sector.

Minister Dr Ramesh Pathirana, State Minister Dr Seetha Arambepola, MPs Rauff Hakeem, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Eran Wickramaratne and Prof Charitha Herath were present at the Committee meeting.