Sri Lanka Telecom is reportedly preparing to establish a private university.

While commenting on this, Higher Education Ministry secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said that Sri Lanka Telecom has already requested for permission and that this university is to be established in Colombo.

The ministry secretary added further that telecommunication related degree courses would be conducted by this university.

While the government has opened up opportunities for the establishment of private universities, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of a branch of Britain’s Central Lancashire University in the Gampaha area.

Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said preparations are already underway to establish a branch of Britain’s Central Lancashire University with an investment of some US$ 150 million.

This is the first such private university to be established in Sri Lanka and the government has provided Central Lancashire University with plot of land 100 acres in extent on a 99 year lease basis.

The government has opened up opportunities for the establishment of private universities with the aim of developing Sri Lanka as an educational hub in the region. With its high literacy rate and the fluency in English, Sri Lanka has the best opportunities to do so, point out analysts.