News
President intervenes to resolve Law College entrance impasse
Law College entrance candidates have been assured of a solution to their plight tomorrow morning (3), under the directions of President Rajapaksa.
The Council of Legal Education met this Friday to discuss the allegations forwarded by the Neethi Adyapanaya Surakeme Sishya Ekamuthuwa (NASSE) or the Front for Safeguarding Legal Education. The discussion was chaired by Chief Justice Mohan Peiris and included Supreme Court Judge Justice Shirani Thilakawardana and representatives from the Bar Association.
Though the proceedings of the Council meeting are unknown, sources said that those concerned will be notified of the decision tomorrow morning at Temple Trees.
The discussion was called following a protest march launched by the NASSE with the Ravana Balaya in support, on Friday morning. The two groups marched from Piththala Junction towards Temple Trees demanding a solution to the issue which erupted mid last month when only 177, the lowest intake to the Law College in over 30 years, received admissions.
About 30 students sat on the road in front of Temple Trees shouting slogans which called on officials to “increase the intake in 2014”, stating that there is “something wrong somewhere”.
Representatives including Ravana Balaya General Secretary Ven Iththekande Saddhatissa Thera handed an appeal to the President’s office during the protest.
“At first we did not get a positive reply from the officials in the President’s office. Then Ven Iththekande Saddhatissa Thera came out and burnt the appeal document, when the students who were inside went out and blocked the main road. This created unrest near the Liberty Roundabout,” said NASSE General Secretary Daminda Hettiarachchi.
Later, the President’s Assistant Secretary, Mahinda Gunaratna, informed them that the President had called the Council of Legal Education to provide the students with a solution.
“He said that the Council of Legal Education was meeting that day at 2.30 pm and the President had informed its members to immediately resolve our issue,” Mr Hettiarachchi added.
Commenting on this, Ven Iththekande Saddhatissa Thera said that they joined the NASSE because they saw that there was visible corruption taking place in the process of admission, and within the Law College itself.
“In 1990, the Law College enrolled over 700 from 3,000 who sat for the examination. The number of admissions was increased to take in a son of a minister at that time. Like this, the number of admissions varied during the last 30 years. We want proper regulations in the Law College, so that, innocent students won’t be affected by these proceedings,” he said.
“We remain hopeful of tomorrow’s decision. What we want is not a solution like last year, but one that will sort out all irregularities such as malpractices within Law College, cancellation of the course book after several years, without any basis, imposing an age limit and drastically reducing the intake this time,” said NASSE President Nayaka Wannigama.He further said that a proper and fair inquiry should be conducted for the Law College to become an institution that is above all illegal activities.