Following the widespread protests across the country against the KNDU bill, the Education Ministry  issued a gazette notification on Tuesday amending the Universities Act of 1978 to include “universities for a specific purpose” within the purview of the UGC. Under the current procedure, a state university can only send its estimated budget proposal for the academic year to the UGC for approval and it is the UGC that will secure the funding from the General Treasury, a Commissioner from UGC said.

 

A Treasury report, seen by the Sunday Times, reveals that two state banks — the  National Savings Bank (NSB) and the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) — have been directed by the Treasury to pump to the KNDU Rs 35.07 billion and Rs 835 million respectively.