Govt allocates over Rs 13b to develop Universities

The Govt will spend more than Rs 13 billion within the next 3 years, to construct buildings for Medical Faculties, Hostels for Medical Faculties and for further studies on Medical Education, said Higher Education ( HE) Minister Lakshman Kiriella.

According to the HE Ministry's, Project Director P.G. Jayasinghe, Rs 5.6 billion is to be spent for a 17-storey building for the Colombo Medical Faculty at Rodney Place, Borella, and new buildings including a Medical Faculty for Wayamba University at a cost of Rs 5 billion, all within the next 3 years.

The construction of the buildings will enable the University to increase its intake of students and provide more facilities for practicals for them.

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The building will be maintained by renting out space for companies involved in the sale of medical equipment, pharmaceutical items and equipment needed by the students.

Among the other major projects is the Rs 1.4 billion building complex for the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine at Rodney Place, Borella.

SAARC students too will benefit from the buildings, as they will be provided the facility at a fee.

Post graduate studies will be expanded accordingly.

Rs 700 million will be spent on putting up buildings for the Medical Faculty of Jaffna University while another project is coming up to provide Hostel facilities for Jaffna University in Pillaiyaradi.

Construction of additional buildings for the Medical Faculty of Ruhunu University, at a cost of Rs 500 million, is due to commence this year.

Meanwhile, plans have been drawn for a Medical Faculty at Sabaragamuwa University, for which a 20-acre plot has been allocated.

The Ministry is also looking for another 25- 30 acres for the Medical Faculty of Moratuwa University, which was announced earlier.