UGC to be replaced by Higher Education Development Commission – Dr. Suren Raghavan

At a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Center on Wednesday (14) under the theme of “Collective Path to a Stable Country”, State Minister of Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan announced  plans to establish the Higher Education Development Commission which would replace the University Grants Commission (UGC). Former Chief Justice K. Sri Pawan has been appointed to chair a committee to integrate the findings from the Wijedasa Rajapaksa Committee and the Committee Report of the University Grants Commission to draft the legal framework and present it to Parliament

Dr Raghavan said that the insights of international education experts had been obtained to enhance the educational landscape in Sri Lanka with the focus on offering multiple degrees through state universities. He said that steps have been initiated to establish three international universities within Sri Lanka and that the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is to be opened in Kandy.

Emphasizing the need to regulate the private higher education sector, Dr. Raghavan repeatedly assured that there are no intentions to commercialize education.