Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Private Universities to be set up through BoI

16 February 2013 03:47 am - 39     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The government has undertaken to set up non-state universities through the Board of Investment (BoI), leaving aside the Higher Education Ministry only to standardize such academic institutions, officials said yesterday.

Accordingly, ten foreign universities have sent their applications seeking approval to establish their campuses in Sri Lanka.  They are mainly from the countries such as the United Kingdom and India.

The newly formed ‘Investment Promotion Ministry’ says  in its website, “ the State university system performs as the main provider of the university systems, the establishment of private universities will be encouraging the government to attract around 50,000 foreign students to Sri Lanka through proposed private universities. These universities are also expected to absorb, on average the 12,000 Sri Lankan students leaving the country for higher education and thereby protecting foreign exchange savings and earnings.”

There are only 15 state university sector, six   post graduate institutes and nine other degree awarding universities in the country now.

Asked for a comment, Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said that the Ministry had already set up the ‘Standing Committee on Accreditation’ to regulate both state and non-state universities.

“We have taken this step under the Universities Act.   We will issue necessary Gazette notifications soon,” he said.

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake told journalists recently that there were already 19 properly functioning private degree awarding institutions in Sri Lanka.

“A student can follow a management degree at Rs.400,000/500,000, while an engineering course at around one million rupees. If we bring in more private universities, there will be price reductions due to competition,” he said.

Already, a 120-acre land has been released for the establishment of a branch campus of the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), a US$ 100 million (Around Rs.12 billion) investment.(Kelum Bandara)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 39

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Viraj V Saturday, 16 February 2013 03:03 PM

    Excellent move and this is one of the few fruitful "things" that this government is going to introduce. This is already a long over due matter. All the best.

    RAJO Saturday, 16 February 2013 08:49 AM

    WOW WHAT GOOD OPPORTUNITY, ALL THE BLACK MONEY HOLDERS CAN BRING BACK THEIR BLACK VIA BOI INVESTMENT. A CAMPUS CAN BE NAMED AS "MR BROTHERHOOD UNIVERSITY HAMBANTHOTA"

    MalcomX Saturday, 16 February 2013 08:50 AM

    Private buses, Private hospitals, Private tutoris known as Unis, more to come pls wait untill we go to hell!

    Joel Saturday, 16 February 2013 12:00 AM

    A very good move! and all those who are against this decision please go and ask any leading CEO in sri lanka which type of university graduates they would prefer to recruit for their company now and then comment here via DM Android App

    tharu Saturday, 16 February 2013 09:48 AM

    Private universities are not a problem, if (1) enrolled student with minimum A/L (at least 1C and 2S) with appropriate subject steam (2) Private University exams should be conducted by national examination boad and all the cost will be covered from private universities (including paper setting) (3) Private universities should have minimum physical resources and human resources (4) 50% of lecturers should be full time and they should have master degree. (5) All degree are 4 years (6) every degree program should have research component in their 3rd year and student must publish one research paper in national or international journal for their graduation

    ANTON Saturday, 16 February 2013 10:49 AM

    MACKIE YOUR ARE JEALOUS

    ANTON Saturday, 16 February 2013 11:17 AM

    MACKIE!!! SEEMS YOU NEED SOME MEDICAL THERAPY

    Dr Dilshan Silva Saturday, 16 February 2013 12:28 PM

    A long over due in Sri Lanka. Well done.

    MalcomX Saturday, 16 February 2013 08:47 AM

    Probably Anton has got 4 Fs for his A/Ls.

    Thomas Saturday, 16 February 2013 04:18 PM

    Long over due, should have been done at least 20 years ago

    Buddhika Sunday, 17 February 2013 08:41 AM

    some of em.. but not the majourity

    Lucky Weeramantry Sunday, 17 February 2013 10:04 AM

    Education Have Also Become Business Projects

    Lucky Weeramantry Sunday, 17 February 2013 10:06 AM

    Name The Universities. Can I Enter Harvad Or Cambridge

    Lucky Weeramantry Sunday, 17 February 2013 10:08 AM

    Very Sensible Move. Better than Building Airports Ans Ports

    vijitha Sunday, 17 February 2013 11:50 AM

    In the past some BOI companies just ran away from the country after some time.

    toost Monday, 18 February 2013 05:32 PM

    The private universities could admit only the children from upper class family for the price of Rs.400,000 for management studies and 1 million for Eng. Poor children from the rural Sinhalese to limit their education up A/L. Is that the SB s plan.

    Mohamed Monday, 18 February 2013 06:06 PM

    Timely move. But as mentioned the universities must be academically strengthened with international standards. Today the recognition for the state univertisty graduates are very poor due to the prevailing situation. So if these private universities also state run with the same attitude means purpose lost. This is not a privatisation issue. let the investors make their money. But give an opportunity for students to further study. That's the need of the hour.

    Ajith Saturday, 16 February 2013 06:09 AM

    Bring Australia too as they are the best in the industry.
    Stop free education in the government Universities as our people don't value when things are given free!!!.

    saranga Saturday, 16 February 2013 04:46 AM

    Overdue but finally very sensible approach to resolve the country's long standing unqualified and unemployable graduate issue

    ling Saturday, 16 February 2013 04:50 AM

    Frog in the well, tell me which country do not have a foreign university?

    SQF Saturday, 16 February 2013 04:58 AM

    A very good move to stop draining money to foreign universities in countries like India, UK, Australia and NZ etc.!

    mdan Saturday, 16 February 2013 05:08 AM

    Who disagreed you mate

    Boots Saturday, 16 February 2013 05:09 AM

    You will realize the gravity of this decision after loosing all the state universities within 5 years.

    Podiman Saturday, 16 February 2013 05:39 AM

    Every dark cloud has a silver line

    Shiffy Saturday, 16 February 2013 05:44 AM

    This sure is wonderful news! :)

    lal Saturday, 16 February 2013 05:42 AM

    Keep the Indians out until they adopt a friendlier approach towards Lanka at International forumns. Too much Indian activity in Lanka now for too little gain for Lanka.

    ANTON Saturday, 16 February 2013 05:58 AM

    Brilliant idea. More intelligent and polite people will be born in Srilanka before long.

    mdan Saturday, 16 February 2013 04:17 AM

    lets start another ministry for this too.. -MR

    Janaki Kalansuriya Saturday, 16 February 2013 06:25 AM

    Will the government please publish a document on what the clients get entitled to with these BOI projects? As we can see, it is just a one way street for the companies involved to make maximum financial benefits with a mere eyewash given to their clients. Take the many Housing Projects. They are all fitted with low quality local fittings. The public have no one to ask or be guided by. So, whatever will happen to the poor students and the parents who will be poorer.

    Janaki Kalansuriya Saturday, 16 February 2013 06:29 AM

    SQF, this country will have to create the ambiance offered by foreign Unis before we can think of stemming the outflow of our students going abroad for studies. With ministers having fingering powers on this, like with sport, this too will go downhill in no time!!

    ANTON Saturday, 16 February 2013 06:30 AM

    Those who obtain degrees from government universities are like parrots. They only know what they have been taught.

    PETHTHAA BATH KAAWADA... PETHTHAA BATH KAAWAA

    Ray Saturday, 16 February 2013 07:17 AM

    This should have been done a long time ago. If i remember right, the sahodarayas rejected the move.
    Look at Malaysia/UAE today. They grabbed the opportunity.

    Shalini Saturday, 16 February 2013 07:16 AM

    Best in university education is USA!

    niroshana Saturday, 16 February 2013 07:39 AM

    Im optimist

    Ann Saturday, 16 February 2013 07:48 AM

    I think enough in this country has been politicized already.... Leave private uni's out please


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H