Motion to conduct Law College exams only in English defeated in Parliament

The Rules under the Council of Legal Education Ordinance (Chapter 276) inclusive of the decision taken by the Council of Legal Education to make the mandatory medium of examination of the Sri Lanka Law College English, was overwhelmingly defeated in the House today (21).

A total of 113 MPs voted against the Sri Lanka Law College decision to make the mandatory medium of examination English whilst one MP voted in favor. 

All government MPs present in the House voted against the motion with most of the opposition. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Chandima Weerakkody, who now sits with the opposition, was the lone MP to cast his vote in support. 

The Rules made by the Incorporated Council of Legal Education with the concurrence of the Minister of Justice under Section 7 of the Incorporated Council of Legal Education Ordinance (Chapter 276) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2208/13 of 30th December 2020 were presented in Parliament on Marxh 10, 2023. 

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms also did not agree to the decision taken by the Council of Legal Education to make the mandatory medium of examination of the Sri Lanka Law College English.