Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane said yesterday he would appoint a board of ombudsmen to lend a patient hearing to the grievances of university students.
“As protest marches by undergraduates were a routine practice in the past despite police action to quell them, I have decided to appoint ombudsmen to listen to their concerns and refer them to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for resolution,” he said, adding that the board would comprise at least three university academics.
“Students have their own grievances. We should listen to them. Otherwise, they express their concerns through various means such as by taking part in demonstrations and protest marches. I will appoint members to the UGC soon. Once that is done, we will appoint the board of ombudsmen to meet on a regular basis,” he said.
