Free education and poverty alleviation

December 29, 2013, 12:00 pm 

by Sompala Gunadheera, the island

I admire my colleague, Dr. P. G. Punchiheva’s dedication to our mutual roots as evinced by his letter to The Island of December 28,under the title "Scrapping of Grade 5 Schol Exam: some issues". I have myself expressed my reservations on the proposed move to cancel the Fifth standard scholarship examination in my article on ‘I without FYE’, appearing in The Sunday Island of Dec. 29.

But, I have not dealt with the stipend normally paid to children below the poverty line when they get through the examination. Perhaps, it was called ‘scholarship examination’ because of this payment. Children whose families were above a specified monthly income did not receive the stipend. Others who passed it had only the advantage of moving into a better school.

Speaking for myself, the stipend made no difference until I was admitted to a hostel and scholarship money was used to maintain it. Until such time the award had got lost in my father’s budget, after a part of it was deducted as contributions to the school, thus heralding a practice that is rampant today. In any case, the payment did not make much difference to me. Judging from the rush to go home for the weekend, conditions at home might have been better than at the hostel for most of us. The stipend really stood me in good stead only after I was relocated to a school to which travelling was expensive and inconvenient.

In any case, poor law was in the embryo when the Father of Free Education formulated his Scheme. His principal aim was to make higher education accessible to the poor. He was perceptive enough though, to realise that, the concession would make no difference to a hungry child. Thus, the stipend was calculated to be an ancillary support. Such provision became superfluous after financial support was provided across the board to every family below the poverty line. After Samurdhi the scholarship became a double payment. Such payment would intensify competition causing jealousy in the environment and tension in the child, avoidance of which appears to be a main objective behind the abolition of the FYE.

Under the proposed Scheme the new exam becomes a tool of admission to the Central School. Poverty alleviation is no longer its problem. What comes under the education sector now is provision for the dropouts left in the feeder schools and enhancement of facilities for the successful. In the matter of providing facilities, all who get into the Central School are on an equal footing after getting in there. Their needs have to be dealt with on the merits of each case. They are lucky that such needs have been personally recognized by the Head of State in making provisions in the 2012 Budget.

In an article, "Helping poor children - ensure delivery on target" published in The Island on November 18, 2012, I made the following remark: "It warmed the cockles of my heart to hear the recent Budget offering nourishment, extra clothing and new shoes to the destitute children of schools in the backwoods".

Observing that the budget provision might not be spent efficiently, unless a new and effective setup was established in the concerned schools with an eagle-eyed manager at the top of it to supervise delivery, I suggested a gender representative panel of two to make a joint recommendation after a confidential individual interview for selecting beneficiaries. "Let the budget provisions be credited to a Welfare Fund in each school. It is likely that well-wishers of that institution, particularly its old pupils who are grateful to their alma mater for the positions they now hold in life, would be happy to contribute to the Fund".

More than a year after the budget provision, the Ministry of Education does not appear to have taken any meaningful action to organise a delivery system that could maximise the bonanza for the benefit of deserving children up to now.

In the meantime, I issued a standing order to my bank to remit a certain sum of money from my monthly pension to be paid to five students in the name of five of my favourite teachers and called for a confidential report on the beneficiaries at the end of the year. The annual report stunned me. Payment had been made to children who had failed to win scholarships but they had received double what the successful ones had got. Only one of those selected had come within the first ten in the class. Shockingly, one of them was the last! None had extracurricular attainments.

In the circumstance I suspended my SO and requested the school management to form a Welfare Fund as recommended above to which I could transfer the remittance. One year later, I still await a response. As a result, by now poor children of my old school have lost sixty thousand rupees that could have gone to supply their acute needs.

Why scrap the scholarship examination?

December 26, 2013, 12:00 pm , the island


It is surprising that the vociferous proponents of free education are silent about the decision of the Minister of Education to scrap the fifth standard scholarship examination. It would seem that because government party politicians fill the prestigious schools with their supporters or those who can influence them, these prestigious schools do not have vacancies to take in those who pass the scholarship examination.

The entire rationale for free education is to ensure equality of opportunity for children from poor families to compete for the better quality education which was available earlier in the denominational schools. These schools were taken over by the government to ensure equality of opportunity. The education imparted in the urban schools with prestigious names is far superior to that in the rural schools despite the claims of government ministers that they will raise thousand schools to the same status.

Schools that are prestigious today gained that position through long years of dedicated service with access to good teachers and facilities. The rural schools are the preserve of political appointments and the teachers are poorly qualified if qualified at all. So there is no question of equating the education provided by the prestigious schools with that in the rural schools or less popular schools.

The question is whether these prestigious schools should be the preserve of the rich and the powerful or available to those who are best fitted to benefit from their education.

Education is just another form of investment: people invest in education, as they invest in anything else, to make more money—in the form of increased earnings in the future. So by providing access to these popular schools to those who pass the scholarship examination we will be providing for fairness and equality of opportunity. The great merit of free education was that it allowed the children from lower income urban and semi-urban families to access these popular schools. But this benefit did not spread to the rural families.

The fifth standard scholarship provided a mechanism for children who are good but whose parents are in lower income brackets to benefit from a superior education- an education which is scarce despite the promises of the politicians since independence to upgrade the schools in the outstations. Income per se should not matter for education decisions: Piyadasa will get less education than John because his parents are poorer and living far from the popular schools even if the income gains from education are the same for both.

Scarce places in popular schools should go to those talented and capable of benefiting from such education rather than those whose parents can afford to pay the fees or live close to the school. If parental income or nearness to a school ( also related to income level) plays such a vital role in determining educational investment, rich children will get a better education even if they are not particularly talented, and talented poor children may be deprived of a superior education.

Education should benefit those who are talented and a society that provides the opportunity for gifted children, deprived for whatever reason, of the benefit from the best education available in the country, will promote both economic benefits since those who can benefit from a superior education will be an asset while those who fill these schools and are unable to benefit from their education will be an economic waste. Similarly there will be social benefits when there is equality of opportunity irrespective of the level of incomes of their parents.

What is required is not to scrap the scholarship examination but to reduce the subjects and make it less dependent on the acquisition of knowledge and more on measuring intelligence and general knowledge.

Barbara Seneviratne says, ‘If the ministers of education past and present had any knowledge of child psychology this very competitive exam could have been considered not of any help to the child. They are made to cram only a few subjects. Those subjects are not relevant for the new class which they would attend the following year.’ Yes, the answer is to change the syllabus and make it more oriented to measuring intelligence and general knowledge.

R.M.B Senanayake

 

GCE AL 2013 results: NE Provinces gain top results due to four years of peace-UGC chief

December 26, 2013, 8:43 pm


By Shamindra Ferdinando, the island

Prof. Kshanika

Chairperson of the University Grants Commission Prof. Kshanika Hiriburegama yesterday observed that the Northern and Eastern Provinces did so well at the GCE Advanced Level examination in 2013 due to restoration of peace.

Prof. Hiriburegama told The Island that it was a clear sign that schools were able to function without hindrance since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009.

Northern Province achieved the highest success rate of 63.3 percent while the Eastern Province recorded 60.1 per cent. Sabaragamuwa was placed second.

The Northern Province comprises Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar districts. The Eastern Province consists of Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts.

Prof. Hiriburegama said: "Education is the backbone of a country and primary factor for development hence this year’s Advanced Level results is a clear sign of post-war progress in the field of education."

Responding to a query, Prof. Hirimburegama said that education had always been a priority for the northerners, particularly those living in the Jaffna peninsula. Those genuinely interested in post-war stability would be pleased by the Northern Province beating all other provinces to take the top post.

Earlier former Commandant of the elite Special Task Force (STF) Senior DIG Nimal Lewke in an interview with The Island said that the Tamil political leadership, Western powers as well as the LTTE rump should re-examine their position on the post-war situation.

Lewke said that the nation topping examination results meant that the eradication of the LTTE was having a significant positive impact on the northern and eastern communities.

Prof. Hirimburegama expressed the belief those foreign governments much concerned about post-war developments here would see the overall performances of the northern and eastern districts as a positive sign.

Sri Lankan Universities In Dire Straits

By Darshani Wimalasuriya -

The standard of education, at Sri Lankan universities, is declining rapidly.  According to World ranking, local universities standards, are now below the universities of failed states in Africa. Major universities in Uganda, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, are now in a superior position, than Sri Lankan universities. Instead of quality education, Sri Lankan universities are now focused on violence, extremist student politics, strikes, low productivity, and moral decay.

Mr. Navarathna Banda – a senior lecturer attached to the Sri Jayawardhanapura University, cites the reasons that have pushed our university system down, into this deplorable state. According to him, over 90 % of Sri Lankan university professors and senior lectures are under qualified, and inexperienced.

The majority of these university teachers, are working in the same universities where they graduated from, and do not possess any overseas exposure or experience. Academically, their knowledge and experience are stunted, limited and outdated. Therefore these university teachers are incapable of preparing their students, to face the educational challenges of the 21^st century.

Over the last 30 years, our universities, failed to carry out any world class research, any validated scientific study, or produce a noteworthy publication, to capture the attention of the international academia. These shortcomings represent the void, in our universities. In order to cover-up these failures, Professor Naleen De Silva, recently carried out a research on Arsenic, at the Kelaniya University, violating all internationally accepted, research standards. It became the laughing stock, of the academic community.

Ragging & Violence in Sri Lankan Universities

Unfortunately, ragging and violence have become part and parcel of local university culture. Ragging involves harassment, abuse and humiliation of new students. It is a serious form of Human Rights violations. We believe that almost all Sri Lankan university students have faced such harassment, either physically or verbally, as first year students. So far, no one has disputed it, and we challenge anyone to come forward, and refute this statement.

For decades, brutal ragging has prevailed in Sri Lankan universities. And throughout, teachers could not, or did not want to put a stop to it. The   reasons are easy to understand; they too were victims of ragging during their days at university, and a majority of them, later turned into perpetrators themselves, as they became senior students. For them, it is a moral challenge, to prevent ragging in our universities. The other reason is that radical political groups are using ragging, as a political weapon, to control new students.

Sexual violence, and brutal physical ragging, is a hidden malaise amongst Sri Lankan universities. The Perdeniya University has the worst, reputation. The most infamous, and horrible case of sexual violence, was reported in 1975, from the Peradeniya University. A 22 year-old female student, Rupa Rathnaseeli, of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, leapt off the second floor of the hostel -Ramanathan Hall, when a group of seniors, tried to insert a pen, into her vagina, as part of sadistic physical ragging.

Rupa, sustained serious injuries to her spine, became paralyzed, and confined to a wheel chair for many years. Her dreams were shattered, and her young life was wasted. In 1997, Rupa Rathnaseeli committed suicide. After this incident, the Peradeniya University authorities, made-up a story, in order to cover-up and conceal evidence. After her death, they conveniently forgot Rupa Rathnaseeli. Those guilty of committing this crime against Rupa, are administrators of the university today. Some are even Professors!

In 2011, three students from the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, were arrested by the Police, and produced before the Kandy Additional Magistrate, Mr. Ravindra Premaratne, for sexually assaulting a fresher. In another incident, three second-year female students, of the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, were charged with ragging a group of female freshers in a toilet. These female freshers, were stripped naked, during the ragging, and forced to perform, indecent sexual acts. The University authorities, imposed a three-week suspension, on these three female offenders.

According to an unofficial internal report, these three senior female students, sexually molested, a newcomer from the Gampaha District. The internal report further reveals, that the victim was afraid to lodge a complaint, with the university authorities, as they adopted a very lethargic approach, to female ragging incidents. Therefore no further charges were brought against, the perpetrators. Although these senior female students, had committed a serious sexual offence, they were able to participate in lectures, soon after the three- week suspension was lifted. Up to date, the authorities of the University of Peradeniya have not taken, any action against the perpetrators, and they mostly covered up, the incidents.

Similar incidents have been reported, from Ruhuna, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kelaniya and Sabaragamuwa Universities. The authorities there too, adopted the Peradeniya policy.

In other incidents; in 1993, an innocent student, named Chaminda Punchihewa, of the Ruhuna University, died, as a result of cruel ragging. He was viciously beaten, and forced to perform vigorous exercises, by senior students. In 1997, a first year female student, of the University of Ruhuna committed suicide following, intolerable ragging. She was subjected, to appalling sexual harassment. In 2011, Professor Susirith Mendis, Head of the Ruhuna University, informed the media, that a group of students, had physically ragged, a female student– Vathsala Kumudini De Silva. As a result of physical ragging, she became semi-paralyzed, in one limb.

In her autobiography, ‘Punarukthi’– (Rebirth), the   award-winning actress, dramatist and writer, Anoma Janadari, states that inhuman and degrading ragging, were imposed on students, at the University of Colombo. She further, writes that most of her female batch mates were subjected to, sexual harassments, by senior students, at the Colombo University.  Another former student, of the University of Colombo, (now completing her post graduate degree, at a university in Michigan) confirms, that in 2011, some senior students, of the Colombo University, splashed buckets of water, containing human feces, on freshers. She, further says, that inhuman and degrading acts, are committed at major universities in Sri Lanka, and no one is held, accountable.

The award-winning, Sri Lankan film and tele-drama actress, Yashoda Wimaladharma, reveals that she had to undergo, such brutal ragging, while at the University of Kelaniya, that it was an emotional shock, for her father, R. L. Wimaladharma, a lecturer, also at the Kelaniya university. According to Yashoda Wimaladharma, her father, could not bear the merciless harassment of his daughter, and suffered a heart attack.

Student Unions  

Sri Lankan Universities have student political groups, manipulated by extremists. When a new batch of students arrives, at the University, they are intimidated and threatened with physical ragging, by the seniors. Often, the new students are not even allowed, to have a dialog with, the university lecturers, not allowed ask questions at lectures, not allowed to take part in English courses, and not allowed to use the university library, by these extremist, student unions.

The freshes, are forced to wear inexpensive clothes, and are not allowed to wear shoes. In some universities, they are not even allowed, to take a shower, nor clean themselves, after using the toilet, for several weeks. In some universities, the students are not allowed to drink beverages, like Coca Cola. This ‘prohibition’, was vigorously implemented, at the Universities of Colombo, and Kelaniya.

The senior students, of the Sri Lankan universities, use physical and sexual harassment, to control newcomers. Commonly used methods, include, sexual violence, forcibly stripping naked, forced masturbation, forced oral or anal sex, sexual simulation, urinating on victims, inserting pens and candles into the victim’s anus or vagina, smearing tooth paste or Marmite, on the victim’s genitals, prohibiting underwear, for both male and female, ‘bucketing’ or throwing water, containing animal, or human feces, insulting with profanity, interrogating  victims, with profane questions, forced to repeat, profane words or sing such songs, in the presence of a group etc.

Although rape, and sodomy are rare, recent reports indicate, that these forms of extreme violence, are gradually emerging, in Sri Lankan Universities.

Student political groups, use ragging as a weapon, to control new students, and to indoctrinate them. There are, unmentionable Human Rights violations, occurring within, the local university system, and many Professors, and other authorities, maintain silence. Most sexual, and physical harassment, are covered up, by the university establishment, and the general public, is unaware, of most of these horrible incidents, that take place, within these educational institutions.

Majority of university lecturers, do not want to get involved, in internal politics, or are fearful of making enemies, with extremist student groups. Most of the above mentioned, inhuman acts of ragging, take place, before their very eyes, and yet, they do nothing to stop it. Therefore many university teachers, turn a blind eye, to these incidents, and move away. Professors, and lecturers who openly opposed ragging, were subjected to numerous types of violence, and some, were compelled to leave the universities, for their safety.

The Poor State of Sri Lankan Medical Faculties  

At one time, Sri Lankan medical schools produced the best doctors, recognized internationally. Unfortunately, this has not been the case, over the past few decades. According to a leading Sri Lankan medical doctor, who is workings, as an associate Professor, in an American university, the standards, of Sri Lankan medical faculties, have declined.

The majority, of Sri Lankan doctors, who graduated over the past few decades, have a very poor knowledge, of English, therefore unable to communicate, effectively and professionally.  He, further says, that Sri Lankan doctors lack attitudinal training, medical ethics and accountability, towards their patients. According to international ranking, of medical schools, many medical schools, of the 3^rd world countries, such as Nigeria, Nepal, India, and Tanzania, have surpassed the Sri Lankan, medical faculties.

Sri Lankan Universities are Virtually Dead

“Sri Lankan Universities are virtually dead”, says a senior lecturer, attached to, the University of Colombo. According to him, qualified professors, prefer overseas universities, in their search for, prosperous job opportunities. Only the old and inefficient academics are trapped, in the local university system.

Majority of Sri Lankan University Professors, and senior lecturers, do not have the desire, to improve, the quality of the local universities, or stop sadistic ragging. They refrain, from sending their children, to local Universities. Their children therefore, attend universities in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia, New Zealand etc., thus creating a huge academic and intellectual void, in local universities.

Student Heroes

When academics, and university authorities failed, in their responsibility, several student leaders, took courageous measures, to stop ragging and sexual harassment, in the local universities. One such example was, Ovitigala Vithanage Samantha- a third year Management student, of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He was, a charismatic student leader, who launched an anti-ragging campaign, at the university, and soon, other universities too, were inspired, by his humane crusade.

A group, of student extremists, killed Ovitigala Vithanage Samantha, on 7th November 2002. He was, viciously assaulted, at the university premises, and his head was smahed, with a computer terminal. One of his killers, who masterminded the murder – Sujith Kuruwita, used his political connections, to evade charges, and today, he is at large. After Ovitigala Vithanage Samantha’s death, his humane campaign, lost its voice, and once again, violence and sadism, overcame Sri Lankan universities.

www.lankauniversity-news.com

Sri Lankan Universities are Below African Universities 

African Universities are, now internationally better recognized, than Sri Lankan Universities. According to 2012 World University Ranking, Makerere University (Uganda), occupies the 1174 place, demonstrating a superior educational quality, than Sri Lankan higher education institutes.  Ironically, Idi Amin’s Uganda, has easily defeated, the leading universities of Sri Lanka. According to the 2012 World Ranking, University of Moratuwa is at 2150, University of Colombo- 2255, University of Ruhuna -2353, and University of Peradeniya -2973. Hence these local universities, now represent, a very low level, of international ranking.

While Sri Lankan universities, struggle with their poor standards of education, Polytechnic of Namibia, has reached the 1319^th place, Sudan’s University of Khartoum- 1394, University of Nairobi- 1435, Mansoura University of Egypt-  1685, University of Ghana-Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa University- 1903, Tanzania’s University of Dar Es Salaam- 1977,and Sudan‘s University of Science & Technology- 2020. Most of these African countries have low literacy rates, compared with Sri Lanka. But they have defeated, all our local universities, in the international arena.

Need Action

Regrettably, Sri Lankan Universities have been on the decline, both morally and academically, over the last four decades. There was a time, when Sri Lankan universities, were the shining examples, of higher education, and academic leadership. Unfortunately, the quality of education and research work at these universities, have declined drastically. Today, Sri Lankan universities are, lagging far behind.

Urgent measures are needed, to put an end to, physical and sexual violence, in our universities, and the standard of education, must be improved. Recently, the Minister of Higher Education, S.B Dissanayake told the media that, he intends to invite, overseas students, to Sri Lankan Universities. With the prevailing low standards of education, at our universities, violance and frequent strikes, within our university system, foreign students might think twice, about coming to further their education, in Sri Lanka.

Education is not a privilege. It is a Human Right. Higher education is the only hope and salvation for Sri Lankans, so let it not be destroyed!

Selection to Academic Positions in the University

University of Jaffna,

4^th December 2013.

To: The Vice Chancellor, members of the Council and well–wishers of the University,

Selection to Academic Positions in the University

Selection to academic positions is the task of mainly senior academics holding administrative responsibilities: the university community and the public rightly expect that this obligation is discharged conscientiously. Regrettably, we are more and more troubled by justifications from these same senior academics for overlooking candidates with superior certified academic performances, in favour of those with inferior records. The reasons frequently given – the selected candidate performed “superbly” in the interview or the candidate’s presentation was “superb” – point to the selectors trying to cover up something seriously amiss that troubles them. Current selections will determine the academic standing of the University, and its intellectual environment, for many years to come. It is now time to refresh our minds on the criteria for selection to academic positions.

The major criterion for selection to an academic post is academic excellence. This is because University is the highest seat for learning and its teachers do not teach from text books alone. They should continually update their knowledge and prepare their students accordingly. They should capture new outcomes in their research fields and apply them in their own work. A person who had absorbed what was taught over four years and applied it well in answering questions regularly set at examinations should be most suitable for the purposes given. Hence as the first category for selection to the post of Lecturer (Probationary), the UGC has specified a First or Second Class (Upper Division) specialization in the relevant subject. Other categories are considered only when candidates in the first category are not available. When selections are made from other categories, the Council must justify it to the UGC.

UGC circular 935 states that “If the Selection Committee is not satisfied with the performance of candidate/candidates, but otherwise well qualified, such candidate/candidates be appointed as Temporary Lecturer/Lecturers for a period of one year and at the end of such period of such period they may be appointed as Lecturer (Probationary) having subjected to another interview and presentation”.

The Circular makes it clear that the certified record is the decisive criterion for selection. The presentation and interview are only to ensure that the selected candidate will not be a disaster as a teacher. It further makes it practically mandatory that the candidate having the best certified record be appointed in a temporary capacity, when there is some doubt about his capacity to teach and interviewed a year later. That makes plain the weight placed on qualification as opposed to presentation.

A Special Degree candidate has been tested in 120 credits using some 50 end-of-semester question papers (and numerous in-course assessments) by several tens of examiners. Each answer script has been marked twice by experienced examiners. The candidate had spent several hundred hours answering question papers in the examination hall. A first class is awarded based on this performance. In the selection board the Head of the Department is, in most cases, is an expert in the subject.

Is it that easy for such a board to reject the result obtained in the above manner and stamp a candidate as being unsuitable on the basis of a few questions fielded inadequately by the candidate during a brief interview lasting a few minutes?

To put it in another way: Whom should a board select to an academic post? A brilliant fresh graduate who did not do well in the presentation or one with an inferior record with better presentation skills?

We must further keep in mind that many years of war and migration have lowered the kind of exposure where students would pick up better English and present themselves more attractively. Under these circumstances it is incumbent on us to give students who have worked hard to overcome some of their handicaps and perform well during their four years at the University, their due opportunity to rise further. 

Selection on subjective criteria such as interview and performance easily becomes the means of abuse to favour those with superior connections and influence at the expense of persons from humbler backgrounds who have shown superiorability.

Once this abuse takes root, the character of the University suffers, as those selected become increasingly beholden to those in authority. 

JUSTA

Intl. Conference  at Peradeniya Uni.

December 11, 2013, 10:26 pm, the island

By Cyril Wimalasurendre

KANDY – The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, of the University of Peradeniya, has organized an international conference on Industrial and information systems (10115 – 2013). The conference will be held at the University from December 17 to 20.

This year, the theme of the conference is, ‘Innovative Technologies for sustainable development’.

Experts from a number of countries, including Canada, Australia and India, would address the conference. Chairman Dr. Vijitha Herath said that it had attract 246 research submissions from 20 countries.

He said that in order for Sri Lanka to achieve the knowledge hub status in Asia it was necessary to organise such international technology conferences in the country.

Such conferences would provide local technology researchers a platform to interact with the experts from around the world and in turn would improve the quality of the local researchers and technologists, Dr. Herath said.

Delays in university admissions: solution urgently needed

December 11, 2013, 12:00 pm , the island


Sri Lanka is probably the only country where students have to wait for a long period of more than one year to start their university education after sitting the AL examination. The new batch of students who have been selected for admission to universities on the results of the A/L examination conducted in August 2012 are yet to commence their respective courses of study though more than 14 months have elapsed. According to a recent University Grants Commission (UGC) announcement, admissions to the universities are to commence in January 2014.

The state universities are notoriously afflicted with many problems causing disruptions to their smooth running - main contributory factors being student unrest, ragging, and staging of strikes by both academic and non-academic staff with least regard to the well-being of the student population. The end result is that students complete their courses of study much later than their counterparts in foreign universities and those other institutions of tertiary education.

Eventually, new graduates enter the job market usually 3 or 4 years behind those of foreign universities. In case of medical graduates the average age they complete their degrees is around 27 years at present whereas the norm is 24 years.

It is incomprehensible why the Examinations Department takes more than five months to release results, and the UGC to admit students to the universities taking even a longer period of time. With the availability of modern technology the Exams Dept and the UGC should be able to publish results more accurately and in time, but unfortunately this has not happened. There are no properly scheduled dates for conduct of examinations, release of results or admission of students to universities.

In contrast to the prevailing scenario in Sri Lanka, one can find how smoothly the Indian university entrance examinations are conducted and admissions to universities are completed within a specific period of time without a lag as it happens here. In India the Grade XII examination of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is conducted in March each year and results are released at the end of May or early June, and students are admitted to universities in September. It is to be noted that the Grade XII CBSE examination is conducted in many foreign centers as well and the numbers sitting are around one million. The due process takes place there without a hitch or without inaccuracies.

The public university system of Sri Lanka has struggled with these issues for over two decades, and it is an unacceptable impediment to national economic growth as well as the individual prosperity of the youth of the country. It is time for the relevant institutions and authorities to deliver a solution to this problem, whether it be by administrative reforms, increased funding and investment for public education or the induction of private universities to the national education system.

Ananda Dodanwela
Nugegoda

Mass protests by undergrads demanding increases in Mahapola and bursary payments

December 3, 2013, 9:50 pm , The Island

By Dasun Edirisinghe

Undergraduates of universities countrywide are demanding the doubling of the Mahapola and bursary payments as they had not been increased during the last eight years.

Convener of the Inter University Students’ Federation Sanjeewa Bandara told The Island yesterday that at present, Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 2,000 were paid monthly as Mahapola and bursary payments respectively.

He said that the ‘Mahinda Chintanaya’ policy document promised to increase the payment by Rs. 500 eight years ago, but that had yet to be implemented.

Bandara said however a Rs. 500 increment was not enough now as the cost of living index had skyrocketed during the last few years and they needed to double the payments.

"We were looking forward to it in the budget 2014, but President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not allocate any funds to increase the Mahapola or bursary," he said.

The student activist said that they held protests at each university during last week and the final protest at university would be held opposite the Kelaniya University today (04).

Bandara said that they would march from each university to the closest town next Wednesday as the second stage of their protest.

"We will hold the protest march on the same day countrywide," he said.

Bandara said that they would finally hold a national level demonstration demanding that the authorities increase Mahapola and bursary payments without any further delay.

The Island learns that IUSF Convener Sanjeewa Bandara was earlier granted bail by the Gangodawila Magistrate on the condition that he would not organise unlawful gatherings. A case had been filed against him by the Mirihana police against his organising a protest march from Sri Jayewardenepura University to Town Hall as it caused inconvenience to the general public.

Asked whether he was violating bail conditions by organizing the protest marches demanding increases in Mahapola and Bursary payments, Bandara said that he was ordered not to organize gathering which caused harm to public peace, but the new protest would be a peaceful one organized to win their rights.

BBS in favour of private campus

Tuesday, 03 December 2013 17:51

Dailymirror lk

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Organisation today said that it was in favour of establishing private universities in Sri Lanka and said the move would stop Sri Lankan monies going out of the country.

“We cannot let people or organisations like Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to act on their agendas and oppose for moves that benefits the country. Students wouldn’t have to spend millions of rupees for universities abroad when there are standard private universities in Sri Lanka,” BBS General Secretary Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera told a news conference.

He said this move would not only help save money but also save the Sri Lankan society from falling apart. “Some students who travel overseas never come back. Their families as well as the country lose them,” he said.

He also said state universities should be protected from being privatized.

The Thera said that they would initiate public forums throughout the country to garner people’s opinion on education system and would handover a proposal to the Education Ministry in order to reform the present education system.

“The present education system in the country is not up to date and practical. The system is in ruins,” he said. (Jayashika Padmasiri & Lahiru Pothmulla)

BUDGET 2014

November 21, 2013, 12:00 pm , the island

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Honourable Speaker, I am pleased to present the 9th Budget of the United People’s Freedom Alliance Government having made use of the previous 8 Budgets to bring about national security, peace and economic progress to our nation. Our nation is proud today that our Government has converted the once mined lands of the North and East into lands that harvest the dividend of peace and prosperity. The consolidation of the democratization process of the 30 year terrorist trapped North, having institutionalized a Provincial Council and Local Authorities in the province through free and fair elections, has further enriched the pride of our nation.

1.2 Almost 2 months ago, elections were held in 3 provinces that represent around one third of the population. All political parties participated actively and demonstrated how well the longstanding democratic process has advanced in our country. Out of the 2.7 million votes total polled in three distinctly different provinces, 1.5 million, which is 56 percent voted for the People’s Alliance Government. Our Government is encouraged that a substantial majority of our people continue to place their confidence in "Mahinda Chintana- Vision for the Future" which, is designed to create a proud future for their children. We were further encouraged by the fact that in the North, an overwhelming majority of people have placed their confidence in the democratic process which was denied to them by the LTTE for 25 long years, and proceeded to use the opportunity to elect its Provincial Council for the first time.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is leaving parliament before the presentation of Budget 2014.
(pix by Nimal Dayaratne and Kamal Bogoda)


13 Honourable Speaker, this Budget is also presented soon after hosting the 23rd and the first ever Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in South Asia. It is also the first ever global event that was held in our country since the Non- Aligned Conference held in 1976. We ought to be proud that we were able to restore the prestige of our motherland by being able to mobilize 53 countries and giving them an opportunity to see for themselves the turnaround we have made. The conference also gave ample opportunities to the leaders who attended to witness the economic progress we have made and the stable democracy that prevails, which will convince them that the fabricated viewpoints being aired by those who are campaigning against us are grossly wrong. The rare opportunity we secured by hosting this summit to promote investment opportunities for our country aiming both the vast external markets in the Commonwealth countries as well as the connected global markets, is our main economic benefit from this summit. By hosting this summit 20 years after it was last held in an Asian country, Sri Lanka while brining pride to the whole of Asia was also able to attract global attention to our economy as one of the leading economies in emerging Asia. This will also pave way to increase investments and create employment opportunities. The successful conclusion of this summit with the transfer of leadership of the Commonwealth to our nation is a clear reflection of international recognition of our Government’s foreign policy.

1.4 Despite the predictions of dooms and glooms about the economy, we are humbly proud to note that the poverty level has steadily declined to 6.4 percent in 2013 from 15.2 percent in 2006. This did not happen by accident. We took electricity, which was available only to urban areas to almost the entire population. We no longer remember the days of power- cuts. Electricity for all and at all times, is now a reality. Other facilities such as access to water, quality roads, irrigation systems for lands in the dry zone, better schools, hospitals, housing, sanitation and environment preservation have improved considerably and -continue to expand all over the country. "Mahinda Chintana towards a new Sri Lanka" our Government’s mandate recognizes that these are basic needs of the people.

1.5 None of this could have been possible if our security forces did not bring about peace and national security. Our committed farmers brought about food security. Our people who work overseas brought valuable foreign exchange to their motherland. Our teachers were committed to provide quality education to our students and our health workers were committed to improve health standards of our people. Our rural based public servants worked hard to revive the rural economy. Our religious leaders worked towards religious harmony. Reviving creative initiatives, our artists brought back the values of our culture and arts. Our labour force ensured a higher national income through industrial peace and continued productivity improvements. Global financial institutions and entrepreneurs placed confidence in our economy. They all deserve a heartfelt appreciation for their uncompromising commitment to promote peace, national reconciliation and economic progress.

2.0 The Economy

2.1 Honourable Speaker, our economy continues to progress steadily. The economic growth of 6.4 per cent registered last year amidst adjustments made due to global instabilities and high oil prices and further challenges due to the severe drought that was experienced, has increased to 7.8 percent in the third quarter of this year. There is confidence that the economic growth will exceed 7 percent this year and move towards 7.5 - 8 percent during the medium term of 2014 - 16 maintaining a growth in the real economy well in excess of the expected 5 - 6 percent inflation.

2.2 Agriculture, the backbone of the livelihood of our rural community has bounced back from the setback faced during the last two years due to unfavourable climatic conditions. The 2013 Yala season has given us a paddy harvest of 2 million MT, which is the highest in recent years. The production of maize, soya, black gram, green gram, big onion, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables has also .Strengthened the food supply. The production of milk, dairy, poultry, meat, fish and eggs has also shown a similar improvement. Rice, maize and poultry production is generating surplus exports.

2.3 Increased paddy, maize and soya bean production has boosted rice processing, flour milling and vegetable oil production. The coconut production which, severely suffered due to the prolonged drought in the coconut triangle, is recovering with a favourable production trend. The production of tea, rubber, cinnamon and other export crops has also shown an improvement Remunerative farm gate prices, the fertilizer subsidy, price stabilizing tax structure at the point of imports, provision of quality seeds and planting material and better storage and marketing facilities have helped our farmers to increase production through diversified crop cultivation.

2.4 The tourism industry has sustained its growth momentum with foreign tourist arrivals reaching 1.5 million and domestic tourism expanding to 3.5 million. Foreign earnings from the industry during this year is expected to be around US$ 1.5 billion and investments have expanded well over US $ 3 billion to create new capacity in this sector to be able to accommodate 2.5 million foreign tourists and 5 million domestic tourists by 2015. The use of local food, fabrics, furniture and equipment in the tourism industry must be expanded to further enhance the economic contribution of this industry.

2.5 The contribution of the country’s construction industry now accounts for 10 percent of GDR. This sector is growing at around 17 percent due to expanded investments in infrastructure as well as higher private investments in urban property development, housing construction, tourism facilities, new factories and other logistics. This industry also contributes for the development of a wide range of engineering and technical fields as well as the building materials industry.

2.6 Honourable Speaker, we have offered many incentives to encourage imports competing industries such as cement, steel, tyres/rubber based products, agricultural/ tea industry machinery, equipment/ spare parts, power generation/ transmission machinery and equipment, building material, furniture and boat/ship building. Similar encouragements have been extended to increase new investments in food processing, sugar and vegetable oil manufacturing, dairy and pharmaceutical products and to increase the production of renewable energy and coal power. Many of these activities have a potential to graduate to export markets in the medium term. The Customs tariffs that will come into force tonight will facilitate the expansion of such value creating and import competing industries. Quality standards will be enforced on imports and exports.

2.7 Export industries which were confronted by depressed global markets, have picked up showing a 2 percent growth. The apparel industry has shown a 6 percent growth and is expected to generate US$ 4,000 million export earnings this year. Value added tea, rubber and cinnamon products adds around US$ 3,000 million to export earnings showing how plantation crops could be translated into being high value manufactured exports. Software, gem and jewelery, handlooms and confectionary industries have gained momentum. Export earnings are expected to generate US$. 10,000 million this year. The earnings from foreign employment are expected to be around US$ 7,000 million.

3.0 Priorities of the External Trade Policy

President Mahinda Rajapaksa delivers the budget proposals for the financial year 2014

3.1 Our endeavor is to encourage our products to reach large markets such as India, Japan, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Russia, South Africa and Brazil in addition to American and European markets, to create a new wave in export growth. We have shifted our education system to equip our youth with the required skills for these export industries and to improve their employment prospects with high income and productivity. We also incentivize our producers to develop skills of their employees so that the overall productivity of our workforce will thereby improve. The Government has arranged Euro 90 million low cost funds to provide credit facilities at an interest rate not exceeding 8 percent for manufacturing and SME industries to modernize their factories with energy efficient technology to improve international competitiveness.

3.2 Our banking and financial institutions need to focus its lending towards production and value creation industries and move away from traditional import biasness in their operations. To further facilitate the export industry growth, online facilities are in place with regard to port and customs operations. Such facilities will be extended to cover imports as well. We have already declared free ports and bonding facilities to promote the value addition process and expand exports from our country. We have set our exports target to be US$ 20 billion in 2020. Towards this end the improvement in productivity is as important as maintaining a flexible exchange rate regime.

3.3 Honourable Speaker, our export economy need not be confined to goods. This country has proved its potentials in exporting services such as business & knowledge processing services, professional services, ports & aviation services and banking & financial services. These services too have grown remarkably during the last 5 years and are expected to generate over US$ 5 billion earnings. As skilled and technical categories are encouraged towards foreign employment, earnings from such sources are projected to be around US$ 10 billion in 2016.

3.4 Our country is now well integrated with international financial markets. The Government and banks have mobilized funds with 5 - 10 year maturities through internationally traded bonds. This has improved availability of foreign funds required for the financing of both Government and private development expenditure. This has also provided a good opportunity for our exporters, high income earning overseas employees, commercial banks and local funds to put their investments and diversify their earnings sources.

4.0 State Enterprises

4.1 Honourable Speaker, our Government will not privatize state enterprises or state banks. I firmly believe that state enterprises should have their presence in the economy for there to be a fair balance between the public sector and the private sector to ensure economic and social progress in our country. Similarly, we have formulated laws to protect our land resources from outright transfers to foreign ownership. From this year, foreigners can have access to state and private land only through long-term lease arrangements. As infrastructure development has improved the value of all lands, it is necessary to implement a land lease tax structure to protect long-term value of lands. Hence a 15 percent upfront tax will be imposed in the event of lease of state or private lands to foreigners.

4.2 It is in this spirit that our Government has strengthened State Owned Business Enterprises. The Government budget through its public investment program has built up the asset base of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), National Water Supply & Drainage Board, Airport & Aviation Services and Sri Lanka Ports Authority to increase their long term earning capacity. I propose to convert all previous loans granted to them by the Treasury, to Government equity in order to further strengthen their balance sheets, while also enabling them to pay annual dividend to the Treasury.

4.3 The results from our policies are now visible. The power generation capacity of hydro power plants has improved considerably to 1,357 MW. This has also been blessed with the addition of 300 MW from the first coal power plant, thereby enabling the reduction of the use of expensive fuel based power to 294 MW. Renewable energy generation has increased up to 422 MW. Transmission losses of the CEB have reduced to 11 percent. This together with the cost recovery pricing strategy that has been put in place has helped the CEB to eliminate its last year’s loss of Rs. 61 billion. CEB has also commenced the reduction of its liabilities to banks and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). The completion of two other coal power plants with a further 600 MW of new generation capacity by the end of this year, will further strengthen the balance sheet of the CEB.

4.4 Public investments in new water schemes in almost all provinces have made a stronger revenue base for the National Water Supply & Drainage Board. An investment of US$ 300 million has also been made to reduce revenue water to 20 percent by 2016. The completion of water supply schemes such as Ruhunapura, Aththanagalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Hambantota, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Dambulla, Mahiyanganaya, Hali Ela, Moneragala, Ratnapura to provide water connections to 1 million households by 2016 will make National Water Supply & Drainage Board stronger in its performance. I propose to establish a National Community Water Supply Department to regulate and develop community water supply schemes in order to ensure water quality standards and proper maintenance of such projects. I propose to allocate Rs. 300 Killion for community water supply initiatives under this Department.

4.5 In terms of the ongoing capitalization to strengthen the two airlines, a further US$ 150 million will be provided to Sri Lankan Airlines and US$ 50 million to Mihin Lanka in 2014. The Treasury has made arrangements to take over the shares acquired in SriLankan by the state banks from the foreign shareholder so that state banks could be relieved of this burden. In order to strengthen the bus fleet of Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) with a further 2,000 buses, Rs.1,000 million has been provided to SLTB in support of its capital investments. In addition, I propose to provide Rs. 500 Killion to bridge its revenue shortfall.

4.6 Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has also made a significant turnaround. It has contained its losses and has also reduced its debt to banks. A Government Guarantee will be provided to the CPC to enable the raising of long term capital to restore its depleted pipeline network, storage facilities and the refinery. I am pleased to inform this august Assembly that, out of the 54 State Owned Business Enterprises, 47 have been turned around to be profitable entities. I value the contribution made by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) through its Parliamentary oversight functions towards the improvement of governance and accountability of these enterprises.

5.0 State of the Budget

5.1 Honourable Speaker, I wish to remind our fiscal experts in the opposition that our fiscal policy framework has performed better than those followed by them prior to 2005. All post 1977 Governments prior to us operated higher budget deficits than the deficits that, prevailed during our time. The Government during 2002 - 2004 removed pension rights of public servants and also imposed a recruitment freeze to the public sector. At that time, no alternative to privatization was considered and public investments were reduced, while keeping a deficit in excess of 8 percent and debt over 100 percent of GDP. This is the reality associated with our fiscal legacy.

5.2 Our Government, in fact got back some of the already privatized enterprises and certain others that failed after privatization to rescue them and put back in business. Gas Company, Sri Lankan, Sri Lanka Telecom, Pelwatte and Sevanagala Sugar companies, Colombo Hilton etc. are now government owned and many of them have already paid dividend income to the Treasury. Our budgetary policy enabled us to accommodate expenditure on high public investments, increased salaries and pension payments, Samurdhi benefits, fertilizer and seed subsidies. Budgetary allocations were made for the recruitment of teachers, doctors, nurses, other public sector employees and around 100,000 unemployed graduates to various positions in the public service.

5.3 Further, funds were also provided for the liberation of the country from terrorists, to demine a large area of 1,557 sq km of land, resettle nearly 300,000 displaced persons and to develop livelihood avenues for them. The budgetary provisions were also used for the restoration of security, peace and development. Provisions were increased to implement the recommendations of Lessons Leant and Reconciliation Commission and to popularize the usage of bilingual practices to promote national reconciliation. We have also been able to provide a Living Allowance to all parents of our three forces, disabled soldiers and those who unfairly lost their livelihood simply because they rose against the labour repression in 1980 July. The development expenditure for rural development is unprecedented.

5.4 Honourable Speaker, with all these, the budget deficit has been reduced to 5.8 percent of GDP this year. We target a budget deficit of 5.2 percent of GDP in 2014 and 4.5 percent in 2015. We are determined to bring down the budget deficit to 3.8 percent by 2016 and reduce our Debt /GDP ratio to 65 percent. That is the legacy we propose to leave behind for our future generations.

6.0 Government Revenue

6.1 The Government revenue this year is likely to be around Rs. 1,100 billion. Revenue from Income tax, VAT and NBT on domestic activities has increased by 14 percent and is on a buoyant growth path.

Revenue from taxes imposed at the point of Customs remained sluggish due to the reduction in motor vehicle imports. Revenue from Excise taxes on liquor and cigarettes has moderated.

6.2 Honourable Speaker, we need to strengthen the Government revenue efforts in view of high commitments of the Government to provide a wide range of public services, welfare programs and public investments. The Government has introduced several measures to prevent leakages associated with tax on liquor, motor vehicle imports under concessionary duty schemes, under invoicing in the importation of used motor vehicles, steel, tyres and motor spare parts. Accordingly motor vehicle deprecation schedule applied at the point of import for the calculation of Customs based taxes will be revised to prevent under valuation.

6.3 It is proposed to extend the 2 percent NBT applicable to the banking sector to all banks and financial institutions to provide equal treatment to the banking and non-banking sectors and to expand the tax base. It is also proposed to fix the tax-free threshold applicable for VAT on supermarket scale retail trade at Rs. 250 million per quarter. In order to prevent manipulations on the computation of turnover through exempted items, I propose to fix a limit of 25 percent of the total turnover as exempted value from VAT in relation to such business. Telecommunication Levy will be fixed at 25 percent

6.4 The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is being computerized to make tax administration efficient and tax payment simple. A new Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS) is being introduced to automate the processes of IRD and eventually link the IRD with Sri Lanka Customs, Department of the Registrar of Companies, Department of Motor Traffic, the Land Commissioner General’s Department and the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The new system will enable the use of a Personal Identification Number to coordinate all transactions and will also to facilitate online tax payments etc.

7.0 The Current Expenditure

7.1 The Government current expenditure at around Rs. 1,200 billion remains higher than Government Revenue. The payments of salaries and allowances to public servants for the provision of education, health, rural development, administrative and extension services and national security total Rs. 390 billion. A further Rs. 125 billion is spent on pensions. Fertilizer subsidy, pharmaceutical drugs and a wide range of welfare expenditure takes another Rs. 100 billion. These expenditures must be secured. The total interest cost of Rs. 445 billion of which, domestic interest payments amount to Rs. 360 billion needs to be managed. However, the reduction of interest rates must be done gradually in order to protect both the savers as well as borrowers. Further, it is necessary to maintain development expenditure at the same scale of 6 percent of GDP to be able to expand economic activities.

7.2 The proper coordination of development programs in each sector in terms of economic priorities is necessary to maximize benefits from public expenditure when foreign loans and grants are utilized in addition to taxes and domestic borrowings. Therefore, I recommend that all grant-aided projects should also to be channeled only through the Consolidated Fund and the National Budget, like foreign loan funded projects having to follow the applicable planning procedure. To ensure consistency and to avoid duplicity in the implementation of the national development process, all expenditure of the private sector and Development Partners that will qualify for social responsibility related tax exemptions, will be implemented having aligned with national development programs. Since grants do not create a debt and hence has no bearing on the deficit, I propose to create additional provisions in the Budget, on account of such grant assistance.

8.0 Agrarian, Livelihood and Irrigation Development

8.1 Honourable Speaker, we consider that our rural centric development strategy must focus on agriculture for food security, traditional healthy living, bio diversity, a clean environment and a higher income to the rural people. Budget consultations with the farmer community representing all districts in the country, expressed confidence in the Government’s agricultural policy and development strategy. They did not ask for any handouts and wanted the Government to concentrate on improving irrigation, providing quality drinking water and protection from wild animals. Therefore, the 2014 - 16 medium term Budget will give priority to these areas. Accordingly the 2014 Budget has allocated Rs. 1,700 million for downstream and livelihood development activities associated with the recently developed major reservoirs such as Weheragala, Rambaken Oya, Deduru Oya. I propose to increase the irrigation budget by a further Rs. 14,000 million for the early completion of Yan Ova, Uma Oya and Moragahakanda development programs, as they will help to improve irrigation and drinking water facilities to several difficult areas in the south and north and also enable power generation.

8.2 The farmers on their own suggested the need to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizer and pesticides to reduce their harmful effects on food, water quality, health, animals and the soil. Since such a shift would take some time, I propose to continue with the fertilizer subsidy scheme to provide all varieties of fertilizer at Rs. 350/per 50 kg bag for paddy cultivation during both the Yala and Maha seasons. A subsidized price of Rs. 1,250 per 50/kg bag will also be continued for all other crops. I propose to allocate a further Rs. 300 million in 2014 to encourage interested farmers and seeds farms, to produce quality planting and seed material and make them available in the market under a registered trademark recognized by the Agriculture Department. Purchasing centers of Divi Neguma agrarian services linked to Lak Sathosa will be set up so as to ensure that farmers will be able to secure guaranteed producer prices for potato, onion, dried chilies and grain varieties.

8.3 The Government has recruited qualified field level officers to the Agriculture Department and the Agrarian Development Department to strengthen extension services. Funds will be allocated to modernize all 300 Agrarian Development Centers to be able to meet farmer needs. I propose to implement a three-year rehabilitation program to restore abandoned paddy land and put them back to productive use by cultivating paddy, fruits, vegetables and also for floriculture, using organic fertilizer. I propose to allocate Rs. 2,300 million in 2014 for the rehabilitation of tanks, minor irrigation schemes and abandoned paddy lands. I propose to grant a monthly allowance of Rs. 300 to field level officers in agricultural extension services,’ veterinary services, irrigation and wildlife. I propose to provide motorcycles on five-year lease basis, to all such field level officers to improve their regular availability at field level and also to pave way for them to own an asset at the end of the lease term.

9.0 Partnership with the World Food Program

9.1 Honourable Speaker, the United Nations World Food Program has assisted our nation in the past to feed displaced people affected by terrorist attacks, the Tsunami and various other natural disasters. In appreciation of this assistance, our country is now in a position to provide food for the needy people who are faced with similar situations in other countries. Therefore, I propose to donate 50,000 MT of rice to the World Food Program of which 10,000 MT will be given to World Food Program office in Sri Lanka. The Government has requested ‘that Sri Lanka be registered as a supplier nation to the World Food Program so that our farmers can grow rice to be supplied to external markets while also serving a worthy cause. I consider that the revival of agriculture is a reflection of being able to restore the traditional pride of our farmer community. Hence, I propose to setup a Revolving Fund of Rs. 300 Mn. under each District Secretary in the major grain producing districts, to streamline related production and marketing activities.

10.0 Smallholder Plantations

10.1 Honourable Speaker, smallholder plantations also play a significant role in our economy. The Government provides assistance to these cultivations by subsidizing planting material, replanting, new planting and fertilizer. In order to be able to get best results from the prevailing subsidies I propose to grant Rs. 5,000 per acre, once a year subsidy, to all tea smallholders to improve the conditions of their lands through water and soil conservation.

10.2 I also propose to support land preparation towards water retention, soil conservation and to increase the use of organic fertilizer for smallholder coconut cultivation. The prevailing high taxes on edible oil at the point of Customs will be maintained to increase long-term cultivation interests. It is proposed to restrict the importation of coconut oil and palm cornel and remove Nation Building Tax on coconut oil millers for 3 years to strengthen the coconut industry. A new incentive scheme will be implemented to encourage manufacturers of coir products for export in recognition of their value addition in foreign exchange. The CESS applicable on the export of tea, rubber, coconut, cinnamon and pepper in primary form will be further strengthened to channel such revenue to encourage value added exports made out of these primary products.

11.0 Large Scale Plantations

11.1 Large-scale plantations were privatized in 1992 on 50-year lease arrangements. However, some of these plantation companies are lagging behind. I propose to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the under performing plantation companies. Similarly, the best performing plantation companies that have increased their productivity, application of bio fertilizer, and engaged in worker welfare, brand promotion and investments to promote high value tea exports should be encouraged. Therefore each plantation company will be required to submit a report on their performance with development plans and targets, before March 31, 2014 to enable the Golden Shareholder being the Government to make appropriate decisions for the development of plantations under each company. I propose to implement a credit scheme with 8 year maturity and 6 percent interest to every company that has so far performed well, provided they - commit to replant an agreed extent, are committed to ensure social development of its plantation workers and increase the volume of its value added tea exports. I propose that banking institutions will earmark around Rs. 500 million for this development loan scheme in 2014. Provisions of existing leases will be suitably amended incorporating new conditions necessary to ensure the development of this important sector.

12.0 Farmer Pension Scheme and Crop Insurance Scheme

12.1 1 propose to implement a pension scheme to provide a minimum of Rs. 1,250 as a monthly pension for farmers over 63 years of age, from January 2014.1 propose to use the proceeds of the Govi Setha lottery along with a capital contribution of Rs. 1,000 million from the Government to strengthen this contributory Pension Fund. The introduction of a contribution from farmers, who use the fertilizer subsidy scheme as announced in my last Budget, should provide a regular flow of funds in support of payment of compensation for crop failures. I propose to extend this to cover all smallholder farmers engaged in all crops so that they could also be compensated in the event of such causality. The Government is also in the process of securing Standby Funds from the World Bank to compensate losses due to adverse climatic conditions, without creating an unanticipated burden to the Budget.

13.0 Research and Food Technology

13.1 The Government has granted a wide range of incentives for research and development as well as a Research Allowance to university lecturers and other scientists. The Government and private sector partnership in setting up of a science park for the promotion of nanotechnology in manufacturing has confirmed how well the two sectors can work together with mutual trust in furthering advanced technology and research We are encouraged with the research initiatives undertaken by both private and public sector institutions particularly in the field of agriculture. Research initiatives of Sabaragamuwa, and Wayamba universities in food technology and livestock and their active involvement with such industries have produced results. Systems and procedures required to be followed by research institutes will be further simplified to encourage the active involvement of universities and for research institutions to be able to meet market demands. I propose to allocate Rs.500 million for research lab facilities, equipment and research work by agricultural faculties in provincial universities at field level together with successful ventures in dairy, poultry, inland fisheries, animal husbandry and food technology.

14.0 Lead Export Industries

14.1 Sri Lanka’s high value tea, apparel and handlooms and rubber products dominate country’s exports, employment and value chain activities. Our Government’s vision is to raise export earnings of these three industries to US$ 10 billion by 2016. In the case of apparel exports, our vision is to position Sri Lanka among the top ten high quality apparel manufacturing countries in the world by 2020. Therefore, in support of further innovation in this industry, triple deductions will be provided for research and innovation carried out within businesses, while recognizing the cost of purchasing international intellectual property rights and the cost of operations relating to such rights, for tax deduction. Royalty income will be made tax free for a period of 7 years. Higher value added tea exporters securing prices in excess of US$ 12 per kg., having established internationally reputed local brands in packed form having used 75 percent home grown tea, will be permitted to import any specialty tea, free from restrictions to facilitate blending to meet market needs. High value tea and rubber product exports will be encouraged through increased cultivation of these crops and by maintaining a high level of CHESS on primary commodity exports. Market access to Japan, India and China will be explored for these commodities through Bilateral Trade Arrangements, in view of the high trade deficit Sri Lanka runs with the three countries.

15.0 Fisheries Industry

15.1 Honourable Speaker, the development of fisheries harbors, anchorages, landing centers, cold rooms and market facilities have expanded the production capacity of the fisheries industry. During the last five years, 2,524 multi day vessels, 3,743 one day vessels and 4,743 normal vessels have been added to the industry. The fish harvest has doubled in the last 5 years and has reached 500,000 MT. Production of inland fishery has contributed to 20 percent of the total fish production.

15.2 The production of dried fish and sprats, maldive fish, canned fish and fish food has increased, and has resulted in supporting livelihood activities of the people engaged in this industry, while also reducing related imports from 80,000 MT in 2010 to 70,000 MT by 2013. I propose to maintain higher Custom based taxes on related imports to promote local production of these activities. The incentives provided to small and medium enterprises engaged in the exports of fish food and ornamental fish will be further expanded.

15.3 Priority will be given for the rehabilitation of existing harbor facilities, the early completion of Silawathura, Gurunagar, Gandara and Kalametiya fishery harbours, the development of fishery harbours and anchorages at Wennappuwa, Chilaw, Kapparathota, Dodandoowa, Hikkaduwa and Negombo lagoon and also to further increase the number of fishing boats during 2014. I propose to allocate Rs. 1,000 million for these development activities. I propose to maintain a high tax structure on fishing boats at the point of import, to promote the local boat manufacturing industry.

16.0 Dairy, Livestock and Poultry Industries

16.1 Honourable Speaker, in our effort to reach self-sufficiency in milk, the local milk production has increased and supplies 40 percent of local consumption requirements. The importation of 4,500 high yielding cows has contributed to improve the production of Government dairy farms. Private sector dairy farms as well as small and medium enterprises have substantially increased their investments in this sector. Further, the Divi Neguma initiative encourages backyard dairy farm activities. I propose to allocate funds to import a further 20,000 high quality cows to promote small and medium dairy farms in order to increase the annual average yield in excess of 1,500 liters of milk per cow. A special loan scheme at an interest rate of 8 percent will be implemented in support of SMEs in the dairy sector to promote dairy farms, collection centers and equipment, the development of animal feed etc. A high CESS will be maintained on the importation of butter, yoghurt and dairy products, to further support the dairy industry.

16.2 Poultry production in 2013 has exceeded 153,000 MT eliminating the deficit production that prevailed in 2009. Divi Neguma program has contributed to increase the informal market contribution to 34 percent I propose to introduce a pricing formula based on the cost structure in place of a price control on poultry to regulate pricing and to safeguard both the consumer as well as the producer. I also propose to introduce a grant scheme. to neutralize impact on production costs due to taxes payable on inputs to encourage exports. As this industry has witnessed a rapid expansion, I propose to allocate Rs. 200 million to strengthen related veterinary services with modern facilities, recruitment of veterinarians and to grant a monthly allowance of Rs.7,500 for veterinarians.

17.0 Divi Neguma - Gama Neguma

17.1 Honourable Speaker, Divi Neguma initiative has nurtured several backyard economic activities among households since it was first launched in 2010 with the objective of setting up one million backyard economies. It has now entered the 5th round. In this round, Divi Neguma intends to develop 125,000 model home gardens, which will encourage the production of seed and planting material suitable to targeted areas based on climatic conditions. I propose to grant Rs. 10,000 each to the 5 best Divi Neguma backyard economies/ home gardens in each Grama Niladari division to incentivize those who participate in this novel concept of micro enterprise development with the participation of the entire family. I request all banks and financial institutions to grant at least 500 working capital loans of Rs. 25,000 at an interest rate of 6 percent without requiring any collateral to such winners, towards developing greenhouse farms, poultry/ livestock /fish farms or handloom/small industries so that Divi Neguma families could emerge as successful entrepreneurs.

17.2 Villages situated in difficult geographic locations are unable to fully benefit from mainstream development activities primarily due to lack of proper transportation. In order to resolve this problem, the Government recently implemented a program to construct bridges in such areas to establish connectivity for transportation. I propose to accelerate this initiative by completing the construction of 1,000 such bridges in 2014. This is expected to connect 500,000 such lagging villages and provide such villages easy access to community water, education, health and livelihood activities through the Gama Neguma initiative for which I propose to allocate Rs. 4,500 million. I propose to allocate Rs. 300 million to provide small buses to these areas to improve transportation. I also propose to grant an allowance of Rs. 15,000 to District Secretaries, Rs. 5,000 to Divisional Secretaries and Rs. 3,000 to Planning Directors and Chief Accountants attached to District Secretariats to incentivize them to coordinate rural centric work and to promote better expenditure management and supervision at district level.

18.0 Child Nutrition

18.1 Honourable Speaker, special initiatives must be undertaken to reduce malnutrition in pregnant and lactating women and in children. I propose to engage family health services to provide greater attention towards promoting breastfeeding, use of nutritious food for children while also ensuring them better health care. Divineguma/Samurdi programs will be used to popularize the consumption of homegrown vegetables, milk and eggs towards promoting better nutrition. I propose to allocate the required funds and employ nutrition specialists in each district, teach the importance of proper nutrition to school children, and carry out community level mobile clinics to promote balanced nutrition. I also propose to impose regulatory restrictions relating to food related advertisement by permitting to advertise only foodstuff with reasonable nutritional values. I propose to work with the World Food Program, UNICEF and Food and Agriculture Organization to collectively implement a nationwide accelerated nutrition initiative to reduce malnutrition and get maximum productivity from annual expenditure of around Rs. 7,000 million incurred by the Government on various programs to increase nutritional levels.

19.0 Women Enterprises

19.1 A large number of women are engaged in successful micro enterprises involving a wide range of high quality products while generating a good source of family income and creating employment opportunities for our people. These entrepreneurs explained to us that their business environment is constraint by a variety of payments imposed on land and buildings, inadequate working capital, complicated title related levies, insistence of traditional securities for small loans, administrative rigidities and lack of sensitivity to their businesses by financial institutions and Government service providers.

19.2 1 propose to implement a Women Micro Enterprise Credit Guarantee Scheme against which Regional Development Banks and SME Banking Units of Commercial Banks will provide working capital loans up to Rs. 250,000 without requiring security. Age limit to be eligible for such loans will be extended up to 68 years. Beyond that age, a designated family member could be nominated to qualify to obtain further facilities. I propose to dedicate 2014 — 2015 for Women Enterprise Development, to be facilitated by Regional Development Banks.

20.0 Small Businesses and the Economy of the Self-employed

20.1 Honourable Speaker, small scale shops, tea shops, repairing stations, restaurants, tailor shops, saloons, small groceries in commercial centers, small trade outlets on pavements and weekly fairs etc. provide self-employment opportunities to a substantial number of people. A large number of consumers also benefit from these widespread service providers. I propose to issue Divi Neguma entitlement cards to small entrepreneurs subject to a payment of Rs. 500 to exempt them from having to pay multiple payments to local authorities. I also propose to reduce the annual lease rental of land leased by state agencies to such cardholders to Rs.1,000 if the extent is less than half an acre. This facility will also be extended to Samurdhi beneficiaries, who are already eligible for several other benefits. I propose to simplify the provisions in long term leases given by state agencies to small entrepreneurs for commercial purposes and in the case of any such lease that has already gone on for over 10 years, the lessee will be given the option to convert the arrangement to a 50 year long term lease. I propose that 50 percent of investment savings of Divi Neguma and Samurdhi beneficiaries and small time traders in banks, be used to give small loans to them at a low rate of interest, on the basis of a group security to be given by such borrowers. I propose to exempt small traders engaged in businesses with a monthly turnover less than Rs.50,000 from all levies imposed by local authorities. Arrangements will be made to provide suitable space to payment hawkers and small traders involved in mobile businesses along new roads, in trade centers and weekly fairs in metropolitan areas.

20.2 I propose to set up a Revolving Fund to provide credit against confirmed supply orders from reputed buyers to promote small craftsmen engaged in the manufacturing of unique artifacts, home decor, designer fabrics, embroidery work, pottery and production of items using precious metals. I propose to restrict the importation of household and office furniture and remove prevailing restrictions on the transportation of furniture within the country to encourage the local furniture industry. Hotel and property developers are encouraged to use locally manufactured furniture to the maximum extent possible.

21.0 Social Services

21.1 The government has expanded welfare support for the elderly, the differently abled and low-income families under various initiatives. In the 2013 Budget, I granted a Rs. 1,000 monthly allowance to the elderly. Almost 221,000 elderly people have benefited from this scheme. A Rs. 3,000 living allowance was extended to differently abled people. Skills development training is given to them through vocational training to empower them to be engaged in livelihood activities. I propose to provide Rs. 100 million to modernize these vocational training schools located all over the country to improve vocational training facilities, including the provision of new equipment and the introduction of new courses.

22.0 Child Abuse and Violence Against Women

22.1 Honourable Speaker, it is disappointing to note that our value-based society nurtured with religion, culture and traditions has to witness child abuse and violence against women. Sri Lanka Women’s Bureau, Child Protection Authority and Sri Lanka Police have expanded many initiatives to prevent these incidents. I propose to allocate Rs.300 million to engage field level officers at Divisional Secretariats to facilitate to prevent such incidents. It is proposed to set up more safe-houses for the benefit of such victims and expand the units set up in police stations to be able to better deal with incidents of child abuse or violence against women. It is important to expand awareness programs in schools through parents - teachers societies and by establishing a network with the involvement of Samurdhi societies and community based organizations to Address these concerns and also to promote volunteers to be engaged in family counseling.

23.0 Empowering Pradeshiya Sabhas

23.1 Community infrastructure facilities associated with Sathi polas, waste management, drainage systems, access roads, children’s parks, public sanitation facilities etc. have not been improved as Pradeshiya Sabhas have not generated adequate income to be able to purchase basic machinery and equipment required to upgrade and maintain them. Hence, I propose to provide capital equipment such as tractors, small construction tools and machinery to every Pradeshiya Sabha in 2014. I also propose to provide Rs. 1 million per month to every Pradeshiya Sabha to supplement their working capital so that community infrastructure facilities could be maintained and rehabilitated in an orderly manner.

24.0 Wildlife Protection and Conservation

24.1 During Budget consultations, it was revealed that the cultivation of animal fodder in reserved areas and the rehabilitation of water tanks and such other facilities are essential to prevent animals from entering villages. I propose an allocation of Rs. 10 million to each relevant Divisional Secretariat to develop Wildlife Conservation and Community Protection Schemes taking into consideration the specific needs of each such Divisional Secretariat area. I propose to allocate Rs. 200 million to the Wildlife Department to purchase required utility vehicles and equipment. I also propose to extend the insurance scheme introduced in the 2013 Budget to compensate losses to human life and property to cover crop damages as well, from 2014.

25.0 Health Services

25.1 Honourable Speaker, as our people are now confronted with new challenges with the increase of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, stroke, heart attacks, kidney failure etc. we need to make a concerted effort to take control of the situation. Work is already in progress to transform Maharagama Cancer Hospital to be able to manage an increased number of indoor and outdoor patients. I also propose to set up radioiodine treatment and radiotherapy units at Jaffna, Kandy, Kurunegala, Badulla, Anuradhapura and Galle hospitals to reduce the waiting list of patients for such treatment at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital from three and a half years to less than six months. These modern centers will have facilities for preventive examinations and early detection as well as cost effective treatment using modern machinery and equipment. National Stroke Center of Sri Lanka will be set up to manage stroke related medicare. Facilities to provide medicare to kidney patients availing sufficient doctors and medicine will also be provided on an accelerated basis. Preventive care against kidney diseases will also be taken through the provision of safe drinking water to all on an urgent basis, through awareness champagnes to prompt farmers to move away from the use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides and by promoting the consumption of unprocessed food more favourable for consumption. I propose to allocate Rs. 900 million to provide Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification plants to villages in the North Central Province in which access to quality pipe borne water is not available in order to prevent waterborne diseases.

25.2 It has been planned to provide an additional allocation of Rs. 2,000 million in 2014 for the development of cost effective infrastructure facilities to deal with non- communicable diseases during the 2014 -16 Medium Term Budget Framework. I propose to allocate Rs. 1,000 million for the accelerated modernization of the two national children’s hospitals as centers of excellence capable of providing the next 10 year pediatric care needs of our country and the related medical research facilities. Colombo, Kalubovila and Ragama hospitals cater daily to around 10,000 outdoor patients and 7,500 indoor patients. Since a large number of patients from Colombo and the surrounding districts rely on the services of these hospitals, the facilities in them should be expanded and modernized. I am encouraged that the People’s Republic of China has extended an outright grant to develop the OPD treatment and ancillary facilities of these 3 hospitals at a cost of around US$ 180 million. I propose to provide additional provisions in 2014 and 2015 to accommodate this grant aid for the development of health services in the country. I propose to increase the annual Uniform Allowance for nurses, family health workers and other staff by a further Rs. 500 - 1500 and the On-call Duty Allowance for paramedical staff by Rs. 150 per month to encourage health sector employees. I also propose to increase the Risk Allowance by Rs. 50 -100 for those in eligible risk categories. When even the richest nations which charge for healthcare are struggling to finance such services to their people, we all should be proud for not only providing pharmaceutical drugs but also indoor and outdoor health care service throughout the country, completely free of charge.

26.0 Arts and Culture

26.1 Honourable Speaker, with the widespread development witnessed across regions it is necessary that the Government expands modern infrastructure facilities for performing arts and culture currently confined to Colombo. In this context, I have secured a grant aid of around Rs. 3,000 million to set up two performing arts and cultural centers in Kandy and Anuradhapura within the 2014-16 medium term budget framework. Further, steps have been taken to modernize cultural centers in Jaffna, Trincomalee and Galle. The modernization of the Lionel Wendt Art Center, Lumbini Theater, and Galle Municipal Council Theatre will also be commenced in 2014. I propose to channel budgetary provisions to implement special projects to document our heritage, culture and traditions and to popularize them among our new generation.

27.0 Holiday Bungalows for Artists

27.1 1 propose to allocate land blocks and provide seed capital to build 5 holiday bungalows exclusively designed for artists. I request artists to top-up the Government contribution through a fund raising campaign to make them enthusiastic partners of this initiative and rally round Sri Lankan tourism to project country’s performing arts and the film industry. The performance of our multi talented artists at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting amply demonstrated their capacity to take the massage of peace and reconciliation through rich performing arts of our country.

28.0 Education

28.1 Honourable Speaker, the Budget estimates placed before this august Assembly have provided Rs. 125 billion for general education. Rs. 80 billion is spent on teacher salaries and Rs. 10 billion to provide textbooks, uniforms, mid day meals and transport subsidies. The creation of a child-friendly school system, developing Mahindodaya laboratories, teacher training, quality improvements of text books and teaching material and the introduction of technology streams to advanced classes are given priority in the public investment program in the medium term. The development of 6,000 schools including 1,000 Mahindodaya laboratories and the rehabilitation of rural schools will be completed in 2014. An allocation of Rs. 1,000 million will be provided to upgrade sanitation and other facilities in rural schools. A further Rs. 750 million will be allocated to develop Maharagama Teacher Training College as a well-equipped training center on all subjects, while facilities in all other teacher training colleges in the country will also be upgraded. Furthermore, steps will be taken to implement the recommendations of the committee appointed to resolve the remaining problems of Sri Lanka Teachers Service, Sri Lanka Principals Service, Sri Lanka Educationists Service and Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service and to improve the quality of education.

29.0 Pirivena Education

29.1 The 2014 -16 Medium Term Pirivena Education Strategy aims at raising the student population associated with Pirivena education by 25 percent by 2016. Towards achieving this target, the teacher participation in Pirivena education also needs to be increased by 25 percent. I propose to provide Rs. 500,000 to each Pirivena to improve classrooms, libraries, computer labs, furniture and equipment in order to upgrade Pirivena education facilities. I also propose to extend facilities such as distress loans, property loans, the Agrahara Insurance Scheme benefits and railway warrants to Pirivena teachers. Similarly, I propose to increase the Student Allowance for monks to Rs. 15 per day and other students to Rs. 5 per day.

30.0 Skills Education

30.1 Honourable Speaker, our country needs to implement a fast-track skills development program to meet market demands by gearing our youth to be able to secure high paid jobs and also to improve productivity in industries and services in the next decade. The Government has therefore secured around US$ 350 million budget support from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to supplement Government expenditure on skills education. Accordingly, expenditure on skills development and youth affairs has been increased to Rs. 12,105 million in 2014 to be shared with external funding facilities to accelerate skills education in the country in the next 2 years. A diploma awarding Technical College that is affiliated to the Moratuwa University will be setup in Homagama.

30.2 The 2014 - 2020 Vocational Education Strategy consists of rehabilitation and construction of Technical Colleges and Vocational Training Centers, development of training material and the provision of equipment, staff training and professional development. These program will target extending technical competencies in agriculture, IT, accounting, irrigation, construction, ship and boat building, ocean technology, tourism, beauty care and high tech competencies required for overseas skilled employment I propose to increase the allowances given to lecturers and students to incentivize skills education and increase Diploma Holders with National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Standards. The aim of skills education is to develop 50,000 diploma holders and 50,000 certificate holders in different skills with NVQ Standards by 2015.

31.0 University Housing, Townships & Facilities for Advanced Studies and Research

31.1 Honourable Speaker, our universities have implemented a program to transform our university township environment to facilitate to upgrade the university education of our country. We have given high priority to resolve accommodation constraints of our university students. We have implemented a hostel construction program in 15 universities for 15,000 students at a cost of Rs. 15,000 million. This will completely solve the accommodation problems of first year and final year university students. Incentives will be provided to those who provide further accommodation facilities from the surrounding university township environment. I propose to increase the Academic Allowance of university lecturers by 5 percent of the basic salary in accordance with our commitment to provide attractive remuneration over the medium term.

31.2 The medium term development programs include the establishment of an Engineering and Technology Faculty in the Sri Jayewardenepura University, Information Technology Center in the Kelaniya University, an Advanced Medical Faculty in the Peradeniya University and an Electronics, Petroleum and Aeronautical Engineering Faculty in the Moratuwa University. The capacity expansion of management, food technology, veterinary science and agriculture faculties of Colombo, Wayamba, Jaffna, Rajarata, Eastern, Uvawellassa, Sabaragamuwa and Ruhuna universities and the expansion of advanced degrees in indigenous medicine and Ayurvedic teaching hospitals are also recognized as priorities of the medium term. Along with these, the planned improvements in the quality of higher education are expected to require an estimated additional sum of Rs. 9,000 million over the medium term. I propose to top up the 2014 allocations by 2,000 million to accelerate these initiatives.

32.0 Sri Lanka as a Regional Medical Hub

32.1 Honourable Speaker, we have increased the number of medical specialists to 1,500 through an increase in the number of doctors and medical researchers with postgraduate qualifications. Our strategy is to double the number, so that every 100,000 of the population will have 11 Specialist Doctors. This will provide 15,000 more doctors graduating from medical schools, with postgraduate opportunities. It will also enable a higher number of specialist doctors to be deployed to District Hospitals and to be attached to private hospitals.

32.2 The Ministry of Health has formulated a National Drug Policy Act for the regulation of drug use, clinical trials and research activities in specialized hospitals. Time has also come to recognize the urgent need for a proper Regulatory setup on food quality. Parallel to these developments, we propose to expand the subject areas of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, and to double the intake for postgraduate studies in medicine. I propose an allocation of Rs. 2,500 million to build a state-of-the-art Post Graduate Institute of Medicine over the next 3 years. This new Post Graduate Institute will connect neighbouring teaching hospitals, while also extending modern facilities required for their postgraduate research and advanced studies. I also proposed to setup a Centre of Medical Excellence to continue to obtain the services of specialized medical professionals after the completion of their service term and to broaden specialized medical services in our country.

32.3 I propose to give priority to increase medical specialists capable of treating kidney ailments, malnutrition and similar contemporary challenges in our society. The Government will seek international research and technology collaboration for our universities focused towards improving the quality of drinking water, particularly in rural areas. I also propose to grant a monthly Intern Allowance of Rs.750 for medical interns engaged in hospital services and a Research Allowance for medical professionals to encourage them to engage in internationally recognized research and professional development initiatives.

33.0 Professional Services Hub

33.1 Honourable Speaker, our country has made unprecedented progress in the field of accountancy, commerce, finance, law, IT, engineering and architecture. The number of people engaged in these professions has increased considerably. Therefore, I propose to support internationally reputed professional institutes to expand such professional and technical programs at provincial level to increase the number of qualified professionals and technical assistants in our country. I encourage the formation of corporate entities to be engaged in Business Process Outsourcing in human resource management, finance and accounting, law and procurement etc. and deliver high quality services to global customers. A 5-year half tax holiday will be given to promote the formation of such new partnerships or firms to be engaged in international