National People's Power member and former MP Dr Nalinda Jayatissa says they are ready to support the setting up of private universities in Sri Lanka subject to being regulated by the state.

The MP made these comments during an interview with Asian Mirror.

“The government must bear the responsibility for the education of children from preschool to secondary education. However, when it comes to tertiary education at the beginning we might not be able to do everything through the government treasury as we have a small treasury which must be increased. However, for our economic process, we need youth with tertiary education. Therefore we agree to get the private sector involved in tertiary education provided it is subject to being regulated by the state.

According to him, if a local businessman wishes to use his profits from a fair business along with a sense of social responsibility to invest in medical education, the NPP is prepared to support it.

Dr Jayastissa said the NPP is prepared to join hands with the sector and initiate a program that will be regulated by the government to provide various types of medical-related degrees in Sri Lanka. “That is our policy. The government must bear the responsibility as to the standard of the medical or nursing degree granted by a faculty, the quality of the lecturers and the fees being charged,” he said.