• Concerns raised on providing essential facilities in remote areas 

The Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education Ministry stated that it is difficult to provide essential facilities for universities located far from urban areas, and that therefore, the Ministry is concerned about establishing universities beyond urban centres.

Speaking on the challenges of expanding university infrastructure, Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said: "Providing the necessary facilities for universities situated in remote areas poses significant difficulties. We encounter difficulties particularly in ensuring adequate residential facilities for students and staff."

He also noted the Government is concerned about establishing universities in areas that lack the required infrastructure and services. “We find it difficult to provide the necessary facilities even to existing universities in such areas. We are therefore concerned about establishing universities beyond urban areas in the future,” he said.

Kaluwewa, on an earlier occasion, said that although there is no possibility of significantly increasing the number of students admitted to State universities at present, the Government is focusing on creating alternative education opportunities, particularly in vocational training. He said that the number of students admitted to State universities each year remained almost fixed at around 44,000, and that this figure had not increased in recent years as priority had been given to improving facilities within existing universities rather than expanding the intake beyond the capacity. In Sri Lanka, a large number of students who pass the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level Examination are unable to enter State universities each year due to intense competition and limited university capacity.