The United National Party has recommended that the second reading debate and the vote on the General Sir John Kothalawala National Defence University Bill be delayed due to a number of issues.
The UNP in a statement said before a vote on the controversial bill in Parliament, the legislation should be deliberated by the Parliamentary Consultative Committees of Defence and Education and must agree on the necessary amendments to ensure the existing institution is retained and academic freedom maintained.
The UNP said if deliberated the consultative committee, the new amendments can be introduced during the committee stage of the reading.
The UNP said the General Sir John Kothalawala University was established by the then UNP government in 1980 as a part of the armed forces modernisation scheme but the present administration is attempting to de-list the institution altogether and planning to establish a new university under the same name.
Furthermore, the UNP said based on the proposed bill, the laws and charters governing Universities do no give the Subject Minister the right to give instructions to a University.
The UNP said the Defence University must function within a framework of a University and therefore called on the government to make necessary amendments to the bill before taking up for a vote.
