Hi-fi hostels on the cards for undergradsHigher Education Ministry

The Higher Education Ministry is to construct 78 luxury hostels within State- run universities by the end of next year.

The hostels will consist of study rooms, television rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms equipped with modern equipment and furniture.

In addition to this, special attention will be given to the university cafeterias. According to a senior official of the University Grants Commission (UGC), these cafeteri- as and hostels will maintain ‘international standards’.

Funds are currently available for the programme and lands for their construction are currently being earmarked.

Though the overall costs of the programme is not very clear, the UGC official said there is a possibility for a hike in the hostel fee once the hostels are running.

In t h e m e a n t i m e, Sri Jayawardenapura undergrads are marking the 38th day of their Sathyagraha today with a string of demands including hostels with good living conditions.

“All students in our university face hardships when it comes to hostels. One of the girls’ hostels has only six hours of water per day. If they have to stay up studying or doing other work, they will not be able to have a bath till the following day,” said Sri Jayawardenapura University Student Union Secretary Sanath Bandara.

Sanath said that boy’s hostels are overcrowded and they struggle against all odds to get decent sleep, following an exhausting day in the university.

He also said that only a very small fraction, of the students in need of hostel facilities, are provided accommodation and among those who failed are a large number coming from Samurdhi beneficiary families.

“We will continue our union action till our demands are met. Though educations officials have promised on several occasions earler to provide hostel facilities, they never kept their word. This time we demand for reliable proof that these hostels will be made,” Bandara said.