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Take over ‘ Batti campus’, run it as a campus of Eastern University: House Committee
A Parliamentary Oversight Committee– the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Education & Human Resources Development–has recommended in its report, that the controversial Batticaloa Campus (Pvt) Ltd. (BCPL) be acquired by the Government, under Emergency Regulations, and be brought under the purview of the Eastern University, and run as one of its campuses.
It also requests a parliamentary debate on its report, to be submitted to the Cabinet next Tuesday, once the Cabinet submits its observations on it.
A copy of the report has also been submitted to the Attorney General’s Department.
“We have submitted our findings and recommendations to the Cabinet. They have six weeks to study it and give us their observations,” SOC Chair Prof.Ashu Marasinghe, told the Sunday Times.
Highlights from its list of 15 recommendations:
- All financial transactions and accounts related to BCPL be subjected to forensic audit by the Nation Audit Office.
- BCPL be investigated by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and all those who are accused be brought to justice as soon as possible.
- Legal action be taken against those who illegally developed and built the Batticaloa Campus on eight acres of land belonging to the Mahawali Authority
- Monies received by the private institution are in violation of financial regulations and government land had been forcibly acquired. Hence, ex-governor. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah has acted in violation of financial laws and abused his powers when setting up the private institution.
- An inquiry be launched into the ex- governor’s alleged abuse of power in setting up such a private venture while being a government minister.
- Loopholes in the legislation, that governs the flow of foreign funds to local private institutions and non governmental organisations (NGOS), have been highlighted in the report and it recommends that the Foreign Exchange Act, No 12, of 2017 be updated to curb the problem.