The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 Issues Arisen at Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine.

¶ 02 Hon. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. I have submitted the Question of Privilege in Sinhala, but I will read it in Tamil as I am not fluent in Sinhala. I apologize for any errors in reading.

¶ 03 Under Standing Order 27(2), I raise the following:

¶ 04 The Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute affiliated to the University of Kelaniya was upgraded in 2021 to the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine by Gazette, starting two new faculties without enhancing facilities: the Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology, and the Faculty of Indigenous Social Sciences and Management. The Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology has the largest student body, with over 1,000 students at present.

¶ 05 They lack required laboratory facilities and computer labs. There is no permanent building for these students. There are only about seven lecture halls. From this September, the faculty does not have space to conduct academic activities for over 1,000 students.

¶ 06 Further, the curricula of the new degree programs were changed within a year of enrolling the first intake of 2021 without properly informing students. This unlawful change means they are now studying a curriculum different from the one they were originally registered for, violating their fundamental rights. Also, these new degree programs do not target specific employment sectors, leaving graduates without relevant job avenues.

¶ 07 The first intake of 2021 is due to graduate in 2026, but their issues remain unresolved. Students commenced a protest and a satyagraha on 29 January 2025. After 36 consecutive days, a discussion was held with the Prime Minister on 28 February 2025, and a special five-member committee was appointed on 5 March 2025 to recommend solutions.

¶ 08 After nearly four months, the committee submitted its comprehensive report to the Prime Minister on 2 July 2025. However, the government has not yet implemented the recommendations. With very little time left for the first batch to complete their degree, unresolved issues and lack of quality jeopardize their employment prospects. Accordingly, I ask:

¶ 09 1. Why have the recommendations in the report submitted by the committee on 2 July 2025 not been implemented? Will solutions be implemented before the first intake completes the degree?

¶ 10 2. In implementing the recommendations, is there a possibility of changes to specializations in their degree programs? (e.g., BSc becoming BA, or engineering to BTech)

¶ 11 3. What is the government decision regarding degree programs commenced beyond the university’s original mandate? (Though the stated core objective is to promote Ayurveda, degrees in technology and management have been started.)

¶ 12 4. The government stated that mismatched programs will be affiliated to suitable universities. Why is this process delayed?

¶ 13 5. Why have the Ministry of Higher Education and the government not promptly restructured and restored the curricula appropriately?

¶ 14 6. What is the government’s plan regarding the employment sectors for the students currently studying?

¶ 15 7. Where will the first intake and current batches conduct studies from September, given the lack of space and facilities? What is the government’s plan to address the shortage of facilities?

¶ 16 8. What is the government’s plan on new admissions to these degree programs?

¶ 17 9. Why are inquiries delayed against officials who unlawfully changed curricula violating students’ fundamental rights?

¶ 18 10. Why is the law not being enforced regarding alleged irregularities in academic recruitments?

¶ 19 I may have made errors; I wrote these questions in Tamil and read them in Sinhala, Hon. Speaker.