Steps will be taken to open universities next week: Hakeem

Higher Education Minister Rauff Hakeem said yesterday steps would be taken to reopen universities by next week after assuring their safety.

He told parliament that he instructed Vice Chancellors of all universities to reopen universities after ensuring their safety.

"I instructed vice-chancellors of all 15 universities to reopen them if they can be satisfied about the safety of the universities. The extent of the land area of the universities is vast and will take a long to complete search operations at university premises," he said.

The minister said steps would be taken to reopen at least some faculties if the whole university could not be reopened at once. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)