Protests continue against KDU Bill as Cabinet says President agreed to amend the bill

COLOMBO (News1st): A protest organized by the Inter-University Students' Federation against the Kotelawala Defence University Bill was held today. The protestors marched from the Ayurveda Junction in Nugegoda arrived opposite Parliament resulting traffic congestion. A plethora of organizations representing various fields including the Students' Movement for Free Education, Federation of University Teachers' Associations, Unemployed Graduates Union, Centre for Labour Struggle, United Health Workers Union and Janabala Pawura were present at the location expressing their opposition. "University professors are against this. Non-academic employees, doctors and teachers are against this too," Wasantha Mudalige, the convenor of the Inter University Students' Federation said. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has promised to present the amendments to the proposed Kotalawela National Defence University Bill, Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said on Tuesday (Aug. 03). It is reported the proposed Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Bill will not be taken for debate in parliament on the 6th of August. Accordingly, a journalist raised a question at the cabinet media briefing on Tuesday (03), regarding the Government's stance on the matter: as to whether or not the parties supporting the Government are backing the bill, since it is also reported that parties supporting the Government will not support the bill without making amendments. Responding to these questions, Joint Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said as a government that respects democracy and the people attention will be paid to all factions of society. "The Kotalawala Defence University was established as a University in 2007. The purpose behind this Bill is to pass the changes and amendments suggested ever since it was established as a university," Minister Dr. Pathirana elaborated. "As the Government we responsibly state, the required amendments will be made, ensuring that free education in the country is not hampered," Joint Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana told reporters at the cabinet media briefing on Tuesday (Aug. 03). The committee appointed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to study the proposed Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Bill has expressed its stance in a letter forwarded to to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Accordingly, the SLFP committee is of the stance that FOUR amendments should be made to the proposed KDU Bill. The proposed amendments are:

1. Kotelawala National Defense University will be regulated and controlled by the University Grants Commission
2. The KDU Act should clearly state a fair and transparent system based on Z-score with regard to the admission of undergraduates who are not officers in the security sector
3. Facilitating the grant of a loan on the basis of repayment from income earned while employed
4. A civilian majority in the Governing Council

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