Dec 30, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government is to re-introduce the controversial piece of legislation on private universities to the parliament next year.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake has said the Ministry would make the necessary arrangements to re-present the bill to parliament next year.

He has explained that a private higher education institute or even a university could be opened in the country under the current business registration system.

He has observed that the proposed bill is aimed at ensuring the standards maintained by private higher education institutes or universities in the country.

According to the Deputy Minister, private higher education institutes are already operating in the country and that their standards are lower compared to the state institutions.

Ekanayake has pointed out that action could not be taken against such institutes or universities since there was no legal mechanism to monitor them and law to take action.