Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that a large number of students have been inconvenienced by the increase in the examination fees of the Sri Lanka Law College. He said this while making a special statement in Parliament yesterday. He queried why these fees have been increased.
SJB MP Hesha Withanage said that a group of students have been affected due to this reason and some of them have even given up appearing for the exams.
The Opposition Leader further said that the examination fee for admission to the Law College has been greatly increased by the gazette.The examination fees have also been raised by 257 percent. The entrance exam fee has been increased by 150 percent.
This is an unbearable situation for students. Students in the first year have to pay Rs.67,500 and this amount has been divided into two instalments as Rs.40,000 and Rs.27,500 considering the difficulties of students. There are even students who can not afford Rs.27,500. This is a serious situation. If the exam fee is increased by Rs.2,500 an additional amount of Rs.20,000 has to be paid for another eight subjects. On what basis are these fees increased? I would like to request that this increase be suspended and amend the charges that children will be able to afford it.
Meanwhile, MP Wimal Weerawansa said that it is obvious that there is a plan to reserve the law and legal field for one superior class.
“The Justice Minister brought a gazette earlier. It was defeated by this Parliament,”he said.
Irangika Range