The Parliament Sectoral Oversight Committee on Higher Education has recommended for the government, to seize all assets belonging to the controversial Batticaloa Campus.
Presenting a review report in parliament today pertaining to the controversial campus, Parliamentarian Professor Ashu Marasinghe accordingly made the recommendation.
The MP therefore called for the acquisition to be conducted under emergency regulations and to also take legal steps against the perpetrators.
On the 15th of August 2018 the Hira Foundation entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Project Management signed by the then subject Minister Dallas Alahapperuma and former Deputy Minister MLAM Hizbullah.
We have observed that MLAM Hizbullah signing an agreement while being a Deputy Minister as questionable. Permission to establish a higher education institute has been obtained illegally. We are conducting continuous investigations into how the university was funded.
Upon investigations it was revealed on the 14th of March when the son of former Governor Hizbullah, Hiraz Hizbullah was summoned before the Parliamentary Working Committee he had mentioned the funds came from a donation. However then he stated it was taken as a loan. They failed to produce any loan agreements.
Therefore there is a major concern on how the funds were obtained as a loan. Therefore the Working Committee recommended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Arabian Consulate to conduct an extensive investigation to identify the source of funds.
The Central Bank clearly stated if the funds were received as a loan then it has been credited to an incorrect account making it impossible to pay back.
Therefore we are doubtful whether it was an attempt at money laundering and we view this as a major crime. We request an extensive investigation to be launched into financial discrepancies.
Even though 35 Acres were obtained the institute was built on 8 Acres in a different plot of land illegally. The Foundation had not obtained any permission to construct any buildings.
According to the Provincial Secretariat no documentation can be found. Therefore based on the above mentioned recommendations as all funds received by the foundation is illegal and as the construction of an a building on another plot of land other than that was approved by the government is illegal, the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Higher Education request the government to seize all assets and buildings owned by the Batticaloa Campus Private Limited and the campus to be maintained as a faculty.
Meanwhile JVP Parliamentarian Bimal Ratnayake called for a parliamentary debate to be held on the report promptly.
In response Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella said the government is prepared for such a debate.
Meanwhile MP Ashu Marasinghe said the government must take over the campus under emergency regulations as all matters concerning the campus are illegal and the perpetrators should not even be free but behind bars.
Therefore the Parliamentarian on behalf of the Committee recommended the government to take over all assets of the campus until such time that investigations are completed, and it is also determined as to how the institution was financed.
MP Marasinghe also called for legal steps to be taken against all persons with links to the matter, to be charged and have legal steps taken against them.
MP Marasinghe also called for legal steps to be taken against all persons with links to the matter, to be charged and have legal steps taken against them.
