'University system will be stabilized'

'The government will stabilize the university system and upgrade universities to international standards according to the President's vision of transforming universities into centres of knowledge, said Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake speaking as chief guest at the launching of the book 'J'pura Sarasavi Samantha Ghathanaya' authored by Wimala Perera at a ceremony at the Sri Jayawardenapura University on Wednesday.

Perera is the mother of student Samantha who lost his life due to inhuman ragging at the Sri Jayewardanepura university recently.

Minister Dissanayake said that earlier an extremist trade union controlled the administration in universities. Now this had been changed and an environment is created to enable the university administration to conduct its affairs properly without succumbing to outside threats.

When steps have been taken to maintain discipline among students and enable the administration to conduct its affairs independently there has been subtle moves to upset the applecart by creating tension among university dons, he added. However the government would stand steadfast to thwart such conspiracies, the Minister stressed.

He said university academic staff had been granted the highest salary increase in the history in this year's Budget. 

Link: http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/05/17/news13.asp