Gazette notification of Private universities license yet to be withdrawn

 Sunday, 16 February 2014

The controversial Extraordinary Gazette notification that unions claim gives private universities license to operate without obtaining verification from professional bodies, is yet to be withdrawn by the Government despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s order to do so last week. 

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday charged that the Higher Education Ministry was engaged in delaying tactics in withdrawing the Gazette, which has now been sent back to the Legal Draftsman’s Department.

The GMOA had earlier stated the amendment introduced to the Universities Act through this Gazette, implies that registration with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) was not compulsory for medical degrees offered by private universities.

GMOA Spokesman Dr. Naveen de Zoysa questioned as to why the Government had not issued a Gazette notification withdrawing the earlier Extraordinary Gazette notification, issued on January 31, 2014, despite the order issued after the President’s meeting with SLMC Head, Professor Carlo Fonseka.

He alleged that by seemingly ignoring the President’s order, officials at the Higher Education Ministry had launched a ‘strategic coup’ against the Government’s own objective of making Sri Lanka an ‘education hub’.

The issuing of the gazette notification was a reflection of the Government’s policy of removing obstacles that stand in the way of private degree awarding institutions, according to Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri.

Dr. Dewasiri opined the decision to withdraw the gazette was taken due to the sensitive nature of the issue, with the Government preferring not to antagonize the electorate at the upcoming Western and Southern Provincial Council elections.

The earlier requirement was for all degree awarding Non-State Institutes to obtain compliance certificates from their relevant specified professional bodies, and submit those certificates to the ‘Specified Authority,’ who is the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education. However, this requirement has now been made optional with the words ‘shall obtain’ being replaced by the words, ‘may seek’.

President of the Institution of Engineers, Shavindranath Fernando said they would not allow such regulations to jeopardize the standards they maintain, noting that the professional body would not grant compliance certificates to any institution that does not meet its minimum criteria.

While the amendment does not affect them directly, Fernando opined that it would be very detrimental to the country in the long run.

“You could have institutes mushrooming throughout the country, with parents and students becoming confused as to the standards that need to be met,” he pointed out.

Stressing that the Institution of Engineers cannot encourage this situation, Fernando said they would wait on the assurance given by the Government that the gazette will be withdrawn.

When contacted, Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne, who had come under intense criticism for issuing the said gazette notification, dismissed allegations that the Government was engaged in delaying tactics.

“We have sent the gazette back to the Legal Draftsman’s Department. It is currently with the department and they have to send it to us,” he explained.
Dr. Nawaratne claimed certain sections had attempted to create a false impression among the public, and said the Medical Ordinance clearly states that any private institution that confers medical degrees should seek registration with the SLMC.

When asked why there was a delay in withdrawing the gazette notification, Dr. Nawaratne said it was because the Legal Draftsman’s Department needed time to study the gazette.

“These things cannot be done overnight,” he said.
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