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At the Colombo University Post Graduate Convocation
Ceremony:
President calls for high ethical standards
More opportunities in non-university tertiary sector:
Rasika Somarathna
Sri Lanka not only needs well educated specialists from its higher
education system but also expects it to produce individuals with high
ethical standards and social responsibility, with capabilities of
guiding the rest on the correct path in accordance with the varying
economic and social developments, President Mahinda Rajapaksa observed
yesterday.
Delivering the Convocation Address at the Conferment of Postgraduate
Degrees of the Colombo University at the BMICH, the President noted that
the Graduates produced by local universities, supplemented by the free
education system, had a responsibility to help their colleagues who
could not get the nod but had an equal right to higher educational
opportunities.
“Our University system at present can only accommodate around 20,000
students annually, through a highly competitive examination schedule.
Thus those who do not get the nod to enter Universities should not be
left behind and have to be given alternative avenues to further their
knowledge\skills. In this regard their more fortunate colleagues could
lend a big helping hand” the President added.
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Honorary degrees conferred on
President and Defence Secretary |
The
University of Colombo conferred a honorary degree of Doctor of
Laws on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at its Postgraduate
Convocation held at the BMICH yesterday. The Secretary, Ministry
of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
too was conferred with a honorary degree of Doctor of Letters,
at the same event.
The University of Colombo conferred the titles on the two
leaders in recognition of their services to the country in
safeguarding its territorial integrity, sovereignty by defeating
the LTTE and restoring peace and harmony among all Sri Lankan
communities and uplifting the image of Sri Lanka within the
international community, the Senate of the Colombo University
stated. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa were led to the main hall of the BMICH by the
academic staff of the Colombo University.
The titles were conferred by the former Arch-Bishop of Colombo
and present Chancellor of the Colombo University Most Rev.Oswald
Gomis.
In addition six outstanding academics were conferred with the
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Another 14 were given Degree of
Master of Philosophy. Academic Research awards were presented to
Prof. Indralal de Silva from Faculty of Arts, Doctor Vajira
Dissanayake from Faculty of Medicine and Prof. W. Ratnasooriya
from Faculty of Science. A large gathering including University
Lecturers, students, staff and politicians were present.
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While acknowledging that the Government’s policy was to provide equal
opportunities for all in education, the President said that however when
it came to higher education, financial and other resources and snags
were having an impact on the numbers. However, students who do not find
places within conventional Universities should be given opportunities
through the expansion of the non-University tertiary sector to meet the
growing social demand for higher education and make it more responsive
to the requirements of the labour market, the President opined.
Also the country should not forget that a large number of youth who
could not get entry into higher education facilities, had come forward
to save the country from the clutches of terrorism, he added.
Commenting on the present student activities in Universities the
President noted that the quality of the graduates produced via the
conventional University system could decline due to student unrest or
the violence in which they indulge in.
“Students should be very upright when faced with injustices. However,
they also should approach issues in an intelligent manner. Furthering
their study period by engaging in acts of violence could be counter
productive as the present day economic culture is very competitive” he
added.
The President also noted that Sri Lanka has had an excellent academic
enterprise from the days of the University College, and some of them
earned international reputation through their research, presentations
and publications. This intellectual enterprise, in the early phase of
University development, played a significant role in the intellectual
life of Sri Lanka, he added.
Thus the Lankan higher education system at present should also be
geared to meet the modern day demands. In addition, it also should be
able to produce an upright citizen with high morale values. And he or
she should be prepared to serve the Motherland with commitment and love,
he added. |
