LNP – Concerns raised in Parliament over conducting law college entrance exam only in English

Concerns were raised in Parliament by both government and opposition MPs over conducting of entrance examination to the Law College only in English language, which deprives the rights of rural students getting equal opportunities of gaining entrance to Law College.

SJB MP Hesha Vithanage said entrance examination to the Law College should be conducted in Sinhala and Tamil languages as well, and conducting the examination only in English is unfair for rural students.

Former Minister Vasudewa Nanayakkara said only Sinhala and Tamil languages are considered the official languages and conducting entrance examination only in English was in violation of the Constitution.

“English is only a link language. Students should be allowed to face any examination in either of the two official languages,” he said.

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said there was provisions in the Constitution for any higher education institute to conduct examinations in any language except for official languages.

Parliamentarian Buddhika Premaratne said a mechanism should be introduced to promote English language among rural schools on par with urban schools.

Minister Premajayantha said steps are being taken to introduce English language from grade one onwards from next year under the new education policy.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said he as the then Justice Minister in 2015 recommended students to face the entrance examination in any language and two years ago it had changed again.

He said a new mechanism would be introduced soon to improve English language of the students without deriving the right of Sinhala and Tamil students.