Sir John Kotelawala National Defense University Bill ‘distorts university culture ‘

The National People’s Power (NPP) registered its objections to the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defense University Bill which is to be taken up in Parliament on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference at the JVP Headquarters in Battaramulla NPP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said the proposed Bill paves the way for militarization of the higher education sector, and therefore it is a threat to free education.

She said the Board of this University is appointed by the Defence Minister and it has all the powers of the University Grants Commission. “It can even set up other educational institutes.

All the members of the board, except four members, are high ranking Tri-Forces officers. The Vice Chancellor of the University will be a military person.

This Bill was first presented in 2018 by the previous government and it has been re-presented without any amendment to the content, she noted.

She opined that the Bill distorts the university culture and its purposes.

“There must be freedom in a higher education institution. The students must be able to question and produce new knowledge and radical views. That freedom is not there in the military,” she said.