The National People’s Power says the dangerous nature of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Bill cannot be removed by minor amendments.
Speaking during a media briefing in Colombo today, former Parliamentarian Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the Bill must be shredded.
MP Jayatissa said the Bill was initially gazetted as an Act in April 2018 and was tabled to the Cabinet of Ministers by then Minister of Defence Maithripala Sirisena.
He said the Act had to be temporarily withdrawn due to public outcry, adding it is now merely a support for the present administration as the bill has already been drafted.
MP Jayatissa claimed previous government’s since 2012, made several attempts to create a mechanism that falls outside of the purview of the University Grants Commission adding former Minister of Higher Education SB Dissanayake also submitted similar proposals.
The former Parliamentarian commenting on the proposal to take over the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University under the purview of UGC said the proposed military hierarchy consisting of a Board of Control with seven forces members must be dissolved.
He said the appointment of a Dean and a Vice Chancellor must be done through a vote by academic staff.
Dr. Jayatissa said if the KDU is to come under the UGC, academic duties must be vested with the Senate similar to standard universities.
He said the enrolment of students must be based on the Z-Score.
