Total of Rs 3.6 billion in foreign currency received to build Batti Campus : SOC report

A total sum of Rs 3.6 billion has been received in foreign currency from time to time to build the Batticaloa Campus (Pvt) Ltd, a Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) Report revealed.

The report put together by the Sectoral Oversight Committee said there was no way to determine or calculate whether the funds were received as loans or as a grant.

The report on the University of Batticaloa is to be submitted to the President and the Cabinet, Chair on Sectoral Oversight Committee, on Education and Human Resources, Prof. Ashu Marasinghe said in a statement.

This was decided  during the committee meeting which was held yesterday (Dec 20) at the parliament complex. 

The Sectoral Oversight Committee report was presented to  Parliament on June 21, 2019 and was subsequently presented to the Cabinet.

Considering the security situation of the country, monies received by the institution, unlawful constructions, forcible acquisitions of crown lands found to be illegal, the committee unanimously recommended that the government  acquire them under the emergency rule (as dealt with the North Colombo Medical College) and to pursue legal action against al culprits. 

The Sectoral Oversight Committee has been investigating the Subcommittee information regarding the Batticaloa Campus (Pvt) Ltd and its related entities and companies since the commencement of the Sri Lanka Heera Foundation commenced banking in 1993.

In investigating into the documents related to the document related to the institute, it was recorded under committee observations that it was suspicious regarding establishing the institute as to creating Ulamas or Sharya law or Islam by mentioning “Bachelors of Arts in Sharia and Islamic Studies” in details submitted to the said institute to BOI and Ministry of Higher Education. 

It was further stated that an environment similar to Arabic had been created by land scaling resembling that of Islamic religion and Arabic architectural styles and symbols in all buildings of the Batticaloa Campus (Pvt) Ltd.

Among the recommendations included in the observation report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resources Development, in consideration of the prevailing concerns in Sri Lanka, it has been stated that such institutions should not be allowed as the establishment of such religious or fundamentalist religions could threaten the national security of the country.