Universities, as centres of learning, must not be politicised

Universities must not be politicized, as centres of learning, according to Professor Savitri Goonesekere, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo. She emphasizes that these institutions must uphold the values of freedom of thought and expression, as well as respect and tolerance for differing viewpoints.

Goonesekere recalls her shared experiences with former Vice-Chancellor, Professor L.G. Peiris, in the corridors of the university. They both worked together in the Senate Room, where they learned to navigate and respect viewpoint differences, even during challenging times, such as the assassination of their predecessor, Professor Stanley Wijesundara. During those dark times, they collaborated to support each other and respond to violence against staff and students from various actors.

The University of Colombo and the Sri Lanka Law College have been endowed by the G.L. Peiris Trust for Legal Education and Research, which will share the late Professor Peiris's scholarship on public law and freedom of speech and expression. This literature aims to inspire an understanding of fundamental legal principles, contributing to the well-being and sustainable development of the nation.

The G.L. Peiris Trust will provide a rich range of literature on diverse laws in Sri Lanka, with comparative jurisprudence from Civil and Common Law countries. The Rule of Law in a democracy must be maintained and strengthened by reflecting on the continued relevance of analytical positivist scholarship, as it was in the early post-independence and post-colonial era in Sri Lanka and similar countries. This foundation laid by the University tradition is evident in important areas of public law in our courts and in India.