Ministerial committee against holding Law College exams in English

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms has disagreed with the decision taken by the Council of Legal Education to make English as the mandatory medium of examination at Sri Lanka Law College.

The disagreement arose when the Ministerial Consultative Committee met in Parliament under the chairmanship of Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe recently, Parliament’s Media Division said. 

MPs present have questioned Law College Principal Dr. Athula Pathinayake the purpose and reasoning behind making English as the mandatory medium of examination.

The Committee has been of the view that a student is required to have the liberty to face the examination in their mother tongue. They pointed out that Sinhala and Tamil languages are used in primary courts during court proceedings.

MPs have also highlighted that English education is still at poor levels in rural areas and students’ fundamental rights are violated by making examinations mandatory in English.

Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Ministers Bandula Gunawardana, Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, Dilan Perera, Gevindu Cumaratunga, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Buddhika Pathirana, Uddika Premarathna, Sagara Kariyawasam, Udaya Gammanpila, Mohomad Muzammil, Udayana Kirindigoda, Lalith Ellawala, Gamini Waleboda, Upul Galappaththi, Madhura Withanage, Premnath C. Dolawatte, Charitha Herath,. Ishak Rahuman, H. M. M. Harees and M. S. Thowfeek, were present at the Committee meeting held.