Cabinet approval for new facilities to universities

The Cabinet has granted approval to construct new facilities for two of Sri Lanka's main universities - the Colombo and Jaffna Universities.

Approval was granted for the construction of the first stage of a seven-storeyed building for the Faculty of Graduates Studies of the University of Colombo at a cost of Rs. 125.4 million. The Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee has recommended the allocation. The Higher Education Ministry was also granted approval for the construction of hostel facilities for the Jaffna University.

This university currently offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses for about 6,000 students of which over 1,300 are from outstation areas. Therefore, the need has risen to expand the residential facilities for students and accordingly the Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayaka had proposed the construction of hostels for 400 male and 400 female students.

Cabinet approval was granted to construct the hostels at a cost of Rs. 654.4 million, phasing it over a five-year period, starting from 2013.

Both proposals were forwarded by the Higher Education Minister.