State Minister for Higher Education Suren Raghavan on Friday said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken the initiative to institute a National Higher Education Authority. This Authority will be tasked with conducting comprehensive research and studies on the ongoing education reforms within the region and globally. Emphasizing alignment with 21st-century standards, the establishment of this authority also aims to centralise university administration into a cohesive framework, he said.

State Minister Raghavan addressing a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on Friday unveiled plans for significant reforms within the Humanities Faculty of the universities. Dr Raghavan pointed out that a significant financial allocation has been designated for the education and higher education sectors. Efforts have also been initiated to curtail incidents of violence within the universities and foster an atmosphere conducive to quality education. A comprehensive plan has been devised to enroll 41,000 students in Sri Lankan universities for the upcoming academic year. As a prerequisite for university admission, these students are mandated to participate in a four-month social service activity aligned with their chosen subjects.

To enhance the administrative efficiency of universities, a strategic initiative has been formulated to appoint Deputy Vice Chancellors alongside the existing Vice Chancellors, he added. Recognising the considerable number of lecturers and professors from the country who have pursued opportunities abroad, concerted efforts are underway to repatriate their expertise, he said. The State Minister said invitations have been extended to these qualified professionals, urging them to return to Sri Lanka and contribute to teaching and research activities in State universities. As a result, several lecturers are presently responding to this call, actively engaging in providing their valuable services in the local academic landscape.