BATTICALOA SHARIA UNIVERSITY TO BE PROBED BY COPE

All relevant institutions such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), Board of Investment (BOI) and Vocational Training Authority will be summoned before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) on May 21 to probe the controversial Sharia University in Batticaloa, Committee Chairman and JVP MP Sunil Hadunnetti said yesterday.

He told Parliament that steps should be taken not to accept it as a university or a technical college until investigations were over.

The MP said the government was hesitant to reveal that the Hira Foundation which runs this institution was owned by Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah.

He said 35 acres of land belonging to the Mahaweli Authority had been released to the Hira Foundation.

“It should be revealed as to who released this land to this institute,” he said.