President: Demands of University can be met in September

The government will be able to consider the demands made by the university lecturers after the domestic debt restructuring programme is successfully completed and the country’s economy is stabilised by September, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Thursday during a discussion with the University Lectures’ Associations, held at the Presidential Secretariat.

Representatives from all universities were present at the meeting, where the main purpose was to identify the solutions that can be given to the problems faced by the university lecturers and to maintain the university system, in the current economic crisis.

The President also instructed the authorities to submit a Cabinet memorandum on filling the necessary vacancies in the university system.The university lectures pointed out that the existing educational facilities are insufficient to accommodate the number of students that enroll in the universities, annually.

The President said they are focused on improving the facilities of the university system, while dealing with the current financial restrictions.President Ranil Wickremesinghe advised to pay more attention to develop the facilities of medical, engineering and science faculties.

The President further directed the authorities to consult with the Attorney General and reach a decision on the possibility of re-granting the research allowance of the university lecturers.

Minister of Education Susil Premjayanth, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, President’s Senior Adviser on Economic Affairs Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, Secretary of the Ministry of Education Nihal Ranasinghe, Chairman of the University Grants Commission Senior Professor Sampath Amaratunga, and the heads of line institutions of the government, including officials of the Ministry of Finance, were present at this discussion.