Handover Batti Campus to a trust -Mujibur Rahman

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The Batticaloa Campus should not be acquired by the government but should be handed over to a trust, UNP MP Mujibur Rahman told Parliament on Wednesday.   

Mr Rahman made this remark despite a request made by another UNP MP that the Campus should be acquired by the government. UNP MP Professor Ashu Marasinghe who spoke earlier in the House said the institution should be converted into a state university.   

However, Mr Rahman said one cannot approve Former Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah running the campus as his family entity.   

“I am requesting that the Batticaloa Campus should be handed over to a trust as the government will not be able to run it in the event it is acquired. Government is unable to develop and run the universities which are already under its purview. Also, there is nothing wrong in giving representation to Hizbullah’s family in the event the campus is handed over to a trust,” the MP said.   

Meanwhile, MP Rahman charged that Muslim students who had come wearing Hijabs to sit for GCE Advanced level exam in some centres have been subjected to difficulty on Wednesday. He said these girls have been prevented from sitting for the exam.   

He said the Education Ministry had issued a circular allowing Muslim students to come in wearing Hijabs.   

Opposition MP Athuraliye Rathana Thera who stood up at that time questioned as to whether Mr Rahman is against making the Muslim girls to expose their ears. Mr Rahman responded that he is not against it.