Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa today raised concerns over the change in the system at the Law College of Sri Lanka making it mandatory for the students to answer examinations in the English language.
Speaking in Parliament today (19), he said a Gazette had been issued during the tenure of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the proposal made by then Minister of Justice Ali Sabry making it mandatory to answer Law College examinations in English.
Stating that it was unfair to students from the outskirts who are not well-versed in the English language, MP Wimal Weerawansa also pointed out that the lectures are conducted in either Sinhala or Tamil and the examination is required to be answered in English.
MP Weerawansa said this is unfair to several students and it only aims at being beneficial for a smaller group of students and called on the government to take necessary measures to allow Law College students to answer examinations in either Sinhala or Tamil.
Responding to the claims, former Justice Minister Ali Sabry who made the said proposal informed Parliament that the aim of the proposal is to improve the ability of non-English speaking law students into lawyers capable of dealing in the English language.
“Students are allowed to use either Sinhala or Tamil to sit for the Law College entrance exams. If we keep sticking to the concept of mother tongue, this will result in students passing out as lawyers being divided into two categories, such as English speaking and non-English speaking. This will bring forth a group of lawyers that is incapable of competing due to a language barrier,” he said.
Minister Ali Sabry said the system change is looking at improving the skills of students from rural areas during the course of their degree and enabling them to leave as equals with the capacity to perform with English knowledge.
He further said the decision to make it mandatory to answer Law College examinations in English was taken by the Judicial Education Commission, while several former Law students have urged for this system change as they are currently at a disadvantage due to not being able to converse in English.
Also commenting on the matter, MP Chandima Weerakkody pointed out that everything related to a court case is found in the English language at present.
Stating that even online references are found in English, the MP said a lawyer well-versed in English succeeds.
“However, the case will end if a lawyer does not know the language and is unable to conduct any references. This is not only an issue for the lawyer but is detrimental to his clients,” he added. (NewsWire)
