It was stated that the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 should not be amended in favor of the passage of the Kotelawala Defense Universities Act, adding that it is conceivable that looking back at the past there could be a catastrophe if that were the case. He made this statement at a scholarly lecture convened by the 56 Children’s Organization. The program was conducted online.
However, he said that it should be approved with the necessary amendments to create the required number of professionals for the security forces. The student struggles for the protection of free education, including the 1975 Weerasuriya assassination in Peradeniya and the assassination of Trima Vitarana, who was assassinated in the 1982 Education White Paper, and their aftermath were highlighted.
He further said that the most appropriate thing is not to pass the Universities Act, nor to approve the new Acts, but to maintain the university as it has been since 2018, so that these problems do not arise. However, in an enlightened dialogue, it was stated that the entire education system needs reform.
Gamini Waleboda, Member of Parliament, Prof. Charitha Herath, Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa and others delivered speeches and Ven. Iduragare Dhammaratana Thero delivered the keynote address.