{
  "id": 12742107,
  "title": "Future of Sri Lanka’s state university system: Should it be shut down and reopened?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/future-of-sri-lankas-state-university-system-should-it-be-shut-down",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T23:59:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/future-of-sri-lankas-state-university-system-should-it-be-shut-down-and-reopened/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The future of Sri Lanka's state university system is a complex issue that cannot be dismissed simply by admitting a large number of students. While the system has expanded significantly over the years, creating new institutions, faculties and degree programmes, this expansion alone does not guarantee an improvement in the quality of education. The real question is whether the education provided meets the standards of good teaching, strong research, and meaningful contribution to society.\n\nA university's reputation should be built on the foundation of its teaching, research and the impact it makes on society, rather than through self-promotion or publicity stunts. The true purpose of a university is to create knowledge, teach it, and train students to think critically and examine information objectively. For this to happen, academics need the freedom, responsibility and time to pursue their work without undue political interference.\n\nThe growing tendency for political activity to overshadow the academic mission of universities is a serious concern. In recent decades, this issue has become more pronounced, leading to situations where expressing differing opinions can be difficult within a university setting. While members of a university community have the right to hold and express their political views, a university should not become a place where political loyalty and power struggles outweigh the pursuit of knowledge, teaching and learning.\n\nPersonal experiences of witnessing political power abuse within the administration of a university can reveal deeper institutional problems. When there are no strong safeguards to ensure fair exercise of power and protection of individuals, even a dedicated academic may be forced to leave an institution they love. This personal experience highlights the need for stronger institutional safeguards to protect the core values of a university.\n\nWhile it is important to acknowledge the achievements of some vice-chancellors, academics and students, the presence of a few dedicated individuals cannot single-handedly strengthen a weak institutional system. To create a robust university system, it is crucial to establish an environment where strong leaders can be selected through transparent processes, academics are given the time and resources to carry out their responsibilities, and students are trained to think critically and apply their knowledge to real-world problems. Only then can Sri Lanka's state university system truly serve its purpose and benefit society.",
  "summary": "by Professor Ranjith Bandara Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Colombo My life has been closely connected with Sri Lanka’s state university system for more than four decades. Its doors opened to me first as a student and later as an academic. The system gave me knowledge, opportunities and a life. Therefore, when I speak […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}