Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella has requested the Chief Government Whip to allow Members of Parliament to enter universities and law colleges.

He made this request during the Budget Committee debate on the Expenditure Heads of several Ministries including the Ministry of Education.

Kiriella said that the educational background of the MPs was being widely discussed in society today and that a program could be initiated to provide them with an education.

"The MPs representing the House are capable and intelligent individuals. It is not an easy task to win an election and become Parliamentarians," Kiriella said.

He said that after five or six years in Parliament, a great deal of knowledge can be gained by experience and MPs can be given the opportunity to enter universities and law colleges.

He said that some Members of Parliament were able to enter the Law College without an examination in the 1970s and that the opportunity was created by former Secretary General of Parliament Sam Wijesinghe.