Batticaloa University, an ample example of secular education
University will offer undergraduate courses in AI, a first in Sri Lanka
President to open the University in December
Military officials handing over the University back to its founder
Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah
Higher education is the foundation of the development of a nation. Considered as the pinnacle of academic pursuit, higher education represents a transformative phase in the educational journey of individuals, encompassing specialied and advanced learning, nurturing intellect, critical thinking, and personal growth. Through a diverse array of disciplines and fields, higher education serves as a gateway to knowledge and innovation, empowering students to become specialists in their chosen areas.
Higher education in Sri Lanka is an optional final stage of formal learning following secondary education. Higher education occurs most commonly in universities or degree-granting institutions. These may be public universities or public and private degree-granting institutions which award their own degrees or degrees from foreign universities.
Young population
However, an ever-expanding young population is stretching higher education facilities, and especially, some State universities have been slow in adapting to the fast-changing demands of the local and foreign job market. Currently, about 165,000 students pass the GCE A\Level Examination and qualify for university admission, out of which around 45,000 enter State universities annually.
The options available for the balance to enhance their future employment prospects are limited. They can seek admission to a foreign university at a huge cost, enter a Sri Lankan private university or institute at a lower cost, or be a part of the unskilled workforce. Many who fail to enter State universities seek employment due to financial constraints.
In Sri Lanka, the university system is facing two main challenges: (1) limited capacity for university admission in the face of an increasing number of qualified students, and (2) outdated curricula and teaching methods which do not cater to the modern labour market requirements.
Aligning education with future workforce needs
The present Government under President Ranil Wickremesinghe is making efforts to enhance the flexibility in learning pathways across education systems, connecting vocational education and training and higher education by taking into consideration the demands of the labour market. The focus is on demand-driven technical and vocational education and training, higher education, entrepreneurship, and business training programs tied to specialised sectors.
According to Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines and technology transfer are emphasised.
Mangala Senarath, former Competent Authority of National Paper Company Ltd
Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah
President Ranil Wickremesinghe
Special attention is paid to STEM disciplines and also, the latest study field – Artificial Intelligence (AI) – focusing on the transfer and adoption of technology in economies with an enabling policy environment for these skills investments to pay off.
To overcome limited capacity and somewhat slow-moving reforms in curricula, the Government is focusing on expanding the private sector involvement in higher education.
In a significant development, the Government recently announced that it has decided to establish three private medical colleges in Sri Lanka and these new institutions will adhere to the standards set by existing medical schools in the country.
President Wickremesinghe, at the recent 36th Annual Conference of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA), stressed the Government’s intention to engage the private sector in establishing universities in the future.
He very forthrightly elaborated on moving forward in education and other spheres, during his speech at the Second Reading of the Interim Budget 2022 in Parliament, while reciting lyrics from the popular Sinhala song Aju Thapara Lahila, which says: “Are we the only ones spinning in one place, while the world rushes along leaving us alone.”
Some who voice concern regarding private investments in university education, especially some student unions, say private universities would harm the present free education system. Experiences of other countries show us that this is not the case.
The State and private universities can complement each other, not compete with each other. Competition may exist amongst the private universities for the rankings and the ultimate beneficiary would be the students, with enhanced academic experience.
Private university education has good time management, uses modern technology in education, and curricula are updated, according to the changing needs of the labour market.
A discussion between Sagala Ratnayake, President’s Chief of Staff and Presidential Adviser on National Security, Military and Educational officials prior to handing over the University back to Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah.
Also, private universities can save a considerable amount of foreign exchange for the country and, on the other hand, give an opportunity to earn US dollars, which are in short supply, by admitting foreign students.
Generally, private universities are committed to quality education despite having business concerns. They try to produce competent graduates with high qualifications.
Batticaloa University shaping the future of higher education in a changing world
The Batticaloa University College was initiated with the noble goal of providing higher education to students in multiple fields, while taking into consideration the demands of an ever-changing labour market. Financial assistance to set up the institution as a private university came from Saudi Arabia. But unfortunately, those who were behind the initiatives had to face unprecedented obstacles and challenges and the project came to a standstill. At a time when Sri Lanka is looking to develop private investment in education, this action resulted in delaying one of the largest private universities in the country from opening its doors to many deserving students, by several years.
This university, in Punani, Batticaloa, was under the control of the Government and the military for almost four years. Recently, the Government decided to once again hand over the institution to its founder, former Eastern Province Governor Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah.
This university, which was taken over by the Government in 2019 in the wake of the unrest caused by the extremists in the Eastern Province following the Easter Attacks, later became a treatment centre for Covid-19 patients.
The establishment of the university came under media attention following the Easter Sunday bombings carried out by the terrorist group National Thowheeth Jama’ath. The suicide bombers’ organisation’s cradle was said to be Kattankudy. Against this backdrop, speculation arose as to whether through the relevant university ‘extremist’ ideologies would be promoted.
When tracing its origins, according to the founder and chairman of this educational institution, Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, 35 acres of land under the Mahaweli Authority was given for its construction during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure.
The university was initiated in June 2013 as the Malik Abdulla University College for Vocational Education. In 2014, the name changed to Batticaloa University College and in 2015, it was registered under the Business Registration Act as Batticaloa Campus Private Limited. In 2016, the name was changed to Batticaloa Campus of Sri Lanka and registered with the Sri Lanka Board of Investment (BOI).
Concessional
For the construction, a concessional loan had been obtained from the Ali Abdullah Al Jifali Foundation of Saudi Arabia and the payment of the loan amount of Rs. 3,600 million obtained in six installments, should begin after 15 years, according to Hizbullah.
Its total expenses have been reported to the Inland Revenue Department and this university has been built in such a way that it has the capability and facilities to conduct internationally accepted courses to suit the modern world.
The university planned to teach several courses and preliminary work on starting a Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Faculty of Architectural Design and Surveying, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Tourism and Business Management, Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Resource Management, Faculty of Religion, Culture and Languages and a Medical Faculty has already started. Also, authorities plan to introduce a course on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The university has three lecture halls that can accommodate 200 students each, 14 lecture halls that can accommodate 80 students each, eight laboratories with modern facilities, 150 rooms that can accommodate academic and non-academic staff, and residential facilities for 1,000 students.
According to the project reports given to the University Grants Commission (UGC), it was planned to enroll 3,670 students by 2019, 5,380 students by 2020, and the target was to enroll 10,000 students by 2025.
However, even though Batticaloa is a Muslim-majority area, this university is not restricted to the Muslim community, and it is a higher education institution that caters to students from all races and religions.
Facilities have been made available to students belonging to all major religions to engage in their particular religious observances and practices. The universities of Peradeniya, Jaffna and South East have been built according to the cultural characteristics of their respective areas and this university in Batticaloa has also been built in the same way.
The National Audit Office has released a special audit report regarding the process of establishing and running the Batticaloa Private University and the establishment of this university was discussed at national level in Sri Lanka and the Parliament’s Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) also conducted an investigation.
On November 27, 2020, Professor G.L. Peiris, who was the Education Minister at the time, announced in Parliament that the University of Batticaloa, which was at the centre of controversy, would be taken over by the Government. Now the Sri Lanka Army has taken steps to hand over the university to its founder Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah.
Hizbullah recently told the media that this university was returned to him according to an order by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and this was done as it has been established without doubt that he or the University had no connection with the Easter Sunday attacks and because of the benefits the country could get from it.
“We had planned to open this university in 2019. But with the terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday, it was taken over by the military. A request was made to President Ranil Wickremesinghe to give us this university again. Accordingly, after several rounds of negotiations, the President decided to return the university to us. I express my thanks to the President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake, Defence Secretary General (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage for their support.
This university works jointly with the Sri Lanka University of Technology. There are facilities for about 10,000 students to study here. The courses are conducted according to the latest technology and know-how. We will need around 1,200 staff. We hope to recruit the Vice-Chancellor, Deans, Lecturers, and other staff in the near future. Applications will be called next month to recruit students. We are confident that we will be able to begin operations before the end of this year. We will introduce several courses in Artificial Intelligence. We will invite the President to open the University,” Hizbullah said.
Mangala Senarath, former Competent Authority of National Paper Company Ltd. and former United National Party (UNP) organiser of Batticaloa district in 2019, who has been associated with the Eastern Province for a long period as a businessman, politician and administrator, and has also closely associated with the university, said he has known Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah since 2005.
“He is a humble person and a person of good character. He treats everyone equally. He has done yeomen service to the area, especially for education, without any differences such as race or religion.”
Opportunities
Senarath said Hizbullah has helped all religious places including Buddhist temples. “He has always been with the low-income earners and has continuously provided dry rations and other essentials. At times he was criticised and slandered extensively without any valid reason. When people come here with money for investment, their time and money should not be wasted and the country should take advantage of such opportunities. We have to speak the truth, we have wasted valuable time by closing this institution which could have served thousands of students.”
Senarath said: “The reason for the destruction of our country is that the work is not done properly. People always keep blaming each other. This university is an asset to the country. Today, we have a President who cares about the country and acts with sincere intentions. So we can have some hope for the future. Batticaloa University is not a Sharia University.
This is just Batticaloa University. A large number of people tried to attack Hizbullah saying that this is a plan to destroy the country, together with the extremists. Later this university was closed in 2019. After that came the Corona epidemic and the university was turned into a quarantine centre.”
“This was established by obtaining funds from Saudi Arabia without burdening the State coffers. This university was established to provide higher education and employment not only to the youth of the Eastern Province, but the country as a whole. This university is a true asset to the Eastern Province and the country.”
Senarath said several courses have been planned which can provide higher education to 10,000 students and steps have also been taken to introduce some new courses in the future, such as AI. “What is important is not whether this institution is State-owned or privately owned, but that it is an asset to the entire country,” he said.
