The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today alleged that the Cabinet Sub Committee appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was planning to prevent the Batticaloa Campus being taken over as recommended by the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Education in its report presented in parliament.

JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa told a news conference that the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Education in its report presented in parliament recommended that the government should immediately take over the controversial Batticaloa Campus under the provisions of emergency regulations.

He said the Prime Minister had appointed a Cabinet Sub Committee comprising of Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Malik Samarawickrame, Mano Ganeshan and Lucky Jayawardhane to study the report of the SOC presented in the Cabinet and added that the composition of the committee clearly shows the intention of the government.

“There has been a controversy in the Cabinet on taking over of the Batticaloa Campus and the Prime Minister has appointed a Cabinet Sub Committee to look into the matter. We get to know that the said committee is planning to allow Hisbullah to run the Campus as a private university. When we consider the composition of the subcommittee, we cannot expect more than that,” he said.

MP Jayatissa said JVP was going to request for a one-day debate in parliament at the next party leaders’ meeting on the report of the SOC.

“We will have a discussion with student unions, trade unions and relevant sectors to join the struggle against the Batticaloa Campus,” he said.

MP Jayatissa said they were seeking legal advice on the action which could be taken against the said Campus which was not only illegal but also posing a danger to the national security and reconciliation. (Ajith Siriwardana)

Video by D Ruwandi

Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe