ADYAPANA 2014 with LECS, Higher Education Ministry and S. Thomas College
Absence of Private Universities Act stifling Sri Lanka’s progress - govt.

February 19, 2014, 9:31 pm , The Island



by Zacki Jabbar

At the ADYAPANA 2014 launch: From left, Senior Manager LECS, Husnie Rauf, General Manager LECS,Aasim Mukthar,

Treasurer S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia Old Boys Association, Shanil Jayasekara, Warden, S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, Prof. Indra de Soysa, Ministry of Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, Managing Director LECS, Arjun Dharmadasa and Mohammed Isthiquar, Business Development Manager, BCAS Campus - Gold Sponsor.

Sri Lanka has the potential to become a hub for educational excellence, but its inability to introduce a Higher Education Act with provision to regulate private universities was a huge drawback, a senior government official said.

Higher Education Ministry Secretary Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, addressing the launch of ADYAPANA 2014, at the Cinnamon Grand  last week, lamented that disruptive forces including the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) were preventing the New Higher Education Act which had already been drafted from  becoming law.

Asked how  Sri Lanka could become a hub of educational excellence when the Malabe Private Medical College (MPMC) was unable to function even many years after it had been issued a licence, Navaratne replied that initially there had been a drawback as the college did not have a hospital of its own, but that had been overcome and it was now ready to offer  medical degrees. "The GMOA has been unreasonably opposing the MPMC. Around 15,000 students go abroad annually for higher studies. The establishment of private universities will help save valuable foreign exchange. The Pali University has been able to attract around 1,000 foreign students. This shows that if the right environment and necessary laws are in place, we could become an international hub for educational excellence." 

When pointed out that there were many other organisations apart from the GMOA which opposed private universities, Navaratne said: "Protests are to be expected in a democracy, but we will overcome them and establish more seats of higher learning. The media has a crucial role to play in changing negative perceptions."

ADYAPANA 2014 organised by the Presidential Award winner Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS),in collaboration with the Higher Education Ministry, is scheduled to be held for the ninth consecutive year from September 26 to 28 at the BMICH. The S. Thomas College Old Boys’ Association teamed up with the exhibition from last year. The Batticaloa Edition has been fixed for later this year. ADYAPANA KALVI was conducted in Jaffna last month.

S. Thomass College Warden Prof. Indra De Soysa said that flexibility was the key to progress."ADYAPANA with a wide range of courses to offer, would not only provide the much needed flexibility that school leavers looked for, but also provide them with career guidance counselling."

Managing Director of LECS Arjun Dharmadasa said that they were confident of attracting students from many countries including the Maldives to the exhibition which would be held immediately after the conclusion of the GCE A/L. "It provides immediate higher education opportunities. Around 12,000 students visited ADYAPANA last year. There were well over 150 stalls displaying information of various courses, student programmes, higher education options and job opportunities. Despite the high level of competition and options available in the field of education, many students have continuously patronised our fair which has helped them pursue their visions successfully."

General Manager of LECS, Asim Mukthar noted that the Exhibition would feature specific pavilions for visiting universities and special sessions by top professionals focused on students and their career decisions.

ADYAPANA has through the years built a reputation of having one of the highest student turnover rates, he said. This year’s event will comprise many other attractions focused on the growing student population and provide the visitors with value additions, he added