Former Deputy Speaker and Parliamentarian Thilanga Sumathipala yesterday expressed his expectations that the government will present a Private Member’s Motion submitted by him to convert the Sharia University in Batticaloa to a State Defense University.
Thilanga Sumathipala stated in a letter addressed to President Maithripala Sirisena on May 25 that their party (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) had acted with a focus to protect the nation throughout its history. Sumathipala highlighted in his letter for instance the acquisition of Kachchathivu island and the construction of people-owned projects by them for the protection of the country.
He reminded how all institutes of national importance functioned under state administration and how they were incorporated to the sphere of state on the basis of national interest during the time of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, and how it has been maintained as the policy of the party in all respects.
The letter stated that the Waters Edge Hotel complex was acquired by the government during the office of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga following public protests that its transactions lacked transparency.
It stated: The government retained Apollo Hospital in Narahenpita connected to Appollo Group of Hospitals in India, which was bought by the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation and was being run by a private owner following a case filed by an MP. The government took both institutes to its possession.
“Although there had been many proposals and motions about the controversial SAITEM private University, the final decision was to hand over its control to the Kotelawala Defence University under the Ministry of Defense,” the letter started.
Sumathipala asked that the Batticaloa Sharia University (Batticaloa Campus Pvt Ltd.) be converted to a State Defense University considering the country’s defense and national security for establishing the confidence and security of the majority of non- Muslims in the country and the protection of the country on the whole, against those who advocate extremism.
Meanwhile, UNP MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena has told the government in a Private Member’s Bill to convert the Sharia University in Batticaloa to a state university stating that students of all religions and ethnic groups should be allowed to study there.
He said that creating religious-based universities destroys peace and causes disharmony.