Law College facing prospect of closure, warns principal

Dr. Athula Pathinayake, Principal of Sri Lanka Law College, has warned that the institution will have to be closed unless fees and other charges are increased to meet the rising costs.

Dr. Pathinayake has explained the difficulties experienced by the management when Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms recently sought an explanation regarding the sharp increasing of fees by the College, thereby placing a heavy burden on students.

A statement issued by parliament quoted Dr. Pathinayake as having said that unlike other Universities, the treasury did not allocate money for the maintenance of the Law College and it has come to a stage where the continuation of the Law College was at stake given the high expenses amidst an economic crisis, without such an increase.

At the onset of the meeting concerns were raised pertaining to the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2332/02 of 15th May 2023. Accordingly, the Consultative Committee raised concerns regarding the requirements for the enrollment into Law College included in the gazette. The Committee was of the view that the gazette caused a great injustice to students who have obtained an LLB or have enrolled for an LLB prior to the issuing of this gazette.

This was discussed during the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms held recently in Parliament under the Chairmanship of Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms considered a proposal to accrue a membership fee from practicing lawyers without burdening the students of the Law College. In light of the said, the Committee Chair was of the view the matter should be further discussed and looked into.

State Ministers Anuradha Jayaratne, Sisira Jayakody, Arundika Fernando, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Members of Parliament Gevindu Cumaratunga, Premnath C. Dolawatte and Ashoka Priyantha were present at the Committee meeting.