Sri Lanka should allow reputed foreign Unis to open branches here

• Says they should be made to run the institutions as non-profit organisations
• 30,000 Sri Lankan children apply for student visa from various countries

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

A piece of legislation should be enacted to allow internationally reputed universities to open branches in Sri Lanka, one-time Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.

  “All parties representing Parliament should come to a consensus to approve legislation under which foreign universities which are globally accepted to start up branches in Sri Lanka. They should be made to run education institutions as non-profit organisations,” the Minister said.

“Foreign education is currently available for a certain class of people in Sri Lanka at the moment. At the same time, it has been revealed that around 30,000 Sri Lankan children apply for student visa from various countries. Around $ 3 billion goes out of the nation as spending for overseas education. These funds are sent out of the nation through various illegitimate ways and systems,” he added. He said the remarks made by late national leader Anagarika Dharmapala on Sri Lanka’s education system should be taken into consideration today.